THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
THE
FARMER'S GUIDE
I N
HIRING AND STOCKING FARMS.
CONTAINING
An Examination of many Subje&s of great Importance
both to the common Hufbandman, in hiring a Farm ;
and to a Gentleman on taking the Whole or Part of his
Eftate into his own Hands.
PARTICULARLY,
The Signs whereby to judge of Land.
The Points to be attended to in hiring
a Farm.
The Quantity of Land of every Sort
proportioned to a given Sum of
Money.
The moft advantageous Method of
difpofing of any Sum from 50 /. to
20,000 /. in Hufbandry on culti-
vated or uncultivated Soils.
The Means of rendering Agriculture
as profitable to Gentlemen, as to
common Farmers ; and as benefi.
cial a Profeflion as any other.
Hints to thofe Gentlemen who farm
for Pleasure alone.
ALSO,
Plans of Farm-yards, and Seftions of the neceffary Buildings.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
By the AUTHOR of The FARMER'S LETTERS.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
Printed for W. STRAHAN ; W. NICOLL, N 51. in St, Paul's
Church-yard; B. COLL'INS, at Salifbaryj and
J. BALFOUR, at Edinburgh.
M,DCC,LXX.
CONTENTS
O F T H E
FIRST VOLUME.
BOOK I.
Of hiring and flocking farms in culti-
vated countries, - - Page i
CHAP. I. Of the foil, 2
CHAP. II. Of the contiguity of the fields, 1.6
CHAP. III. Of the probability of
increafmg the quantity of land, - 20
CHAP. IV. Of the comparifon between
the covenants of the leafe and the
nature of the farm, - 25
CHAP. V. Of the nature and fiat e of the
fences, - 39
CHAP. VI. Of the buildings on a farm
and their repairs, - - 4.8
CHAP. VII. Of roads and paths through
a farm, - - - 57
CHAP. VIII. Of the fiat e of the public
roads and diftancefrom the market, 6 1
CHAP. IX. Of the ty the, 65
CHAP. X. Of town charges. - 68
CHAP. XL Of the price of labour, ' - 70
CHAP. XII. Of fans other circumfianccs
which a farmer JJjou/d attend to in
hiring a farm, - - 72
U CONTENTS.
CHAP. XIII. Of the Method of reducing
the fubj eels of the preceding chapters
to a regular account, - P. 76
CHAP. XIV. Remarks on the conduB of
common farmers inproportioning their
land to their money, ~ ~ 97
CHAP. XV. Of the moji advantageous
meth od of difp ofing of$ o 1 . in farming, no
CHAP. XVI. Ofthemoft advantageous
method of difpofing ofiool. in farming, 125
CHAP. XVII. Of the mojl advantageous
method of difpofing of any fum, from
150!. to 200 1. in farming^ - 142
CHAP. XVIII. Of the moft advanta-
geous method on farms of 40 or 50
acres, of difpojing of from 200 1. to
300 1. in farming, - 173
CHAP. XIX. Of the mojl advantageous
method, on farms of 60 or 80 acres of
land) of difpofmg of from 300 1. to
400 1. in farming, 207
CHAP. XX- Of the difference between
gentlemen and common famers in
hiring and flocking farms, 246
CHAP. XXI. Of the mojl advantageous
method of difpojing of from 500!. to
6ool. in farming, - - 280
CHAP. XXII. Of the mojl advantageous
method of dijpofmg of any fum from
700 1. to loool. in farming. - 392
THE
THE
FARMER'S GUIDE.
BOOK I.
Of hiring and flocking Farms, in cultivated
Countries.
A VARIETY of materials, without
fomethingof a regular arrangement,
is liable to a confufion that would
perplex every reader; and the defign of
this work requires as much method as any,
that thofe, who (hall think proper to confult
it, may not be obliged to turn over more
pages than neceflary. A point of no
trifling importance to the common hufband-
man. For the fake, therefore, of clearnefs,
I divide the fubjecl into two principal
parts.
I. The hiring and flocking farms, in
cultivated foils:
II. The fame, in uncultivated ones.
VOL. T. B Under
Under thefe heads I fhall confider,
all thofe circumftances which are in com-
mon to both farmers aad gentlemen ; and,
fecoiidly, fuch as are peculiar to the latter.
The mention of thefe grand divifions is fuf-
ficient here to give the reader a general idea
of the defign; the fubdivifion will arife
naturally out of the fubjecl:.
CHAP. I.
Of the Soil.
T N the common courfe of bufmefs, it is
* known fome time before a farm is va-
cant ; and thofe who think of hiring it have
more opportunities than one, of both view-
ing and enquiring after it. The great point
is the foil. Let us, firft, fuppofe it of a
(tiff nature, clay or ftiff loam ... A judg-
ment of this muft be formed according to
feafons.
Enquiries are commonly, and judicioufly,
made into the crops the land has ufually
yielded ; but let me remark, that this point,
although not abfolutely to be flighted, yet is
never to determine a man's deciiion. Crops
are
( 3 )
are found every where to depend on ma-.
nagement, fcarce ever on foil. A good far-
mer gains great crops wherever he goes ;
a bad farmer always poor ones. But as the
rent is proportioned commonly to the foil,
and as good hufbandry may be exerted on
good as well as bad ones ; it is requifite to
form an exact judgment of what every kind
of foil is worth in rent.
And here let me remark, that, whenever
I fpeak of rent, I mean the amount of rent
(commonly fo called), lights, the poor,
church, conftable, furveyor's rates, repairs of
buildings, covenants for work, &c. in a word,
every article of annual expence,, to which
the farmer is liable from the occupation of
his farm. If he confiders the landlord's
rent alone, he will, in numberlefs inftances,
be wretchedly deceived, and fubjecl for
ever to the worft of miftakes.
All ftiff foils are viewed to moft advan-
tage in winter : the general fault of them
is wetnefs, which is in the greateft excefs
at that feafon of the year. If the fields are
level, and the water ftands in the land,
notwithftanding the furrows are well
ploughed and open, it is a certain fign that
B 2 the
( 4 )
the clay is very ftiff, and of fo adhefive a
nature as to contain the water like a difh :
It is likewife probable, that draining of
every kind will prove infufficient to cure
the natural evil of ftich land. This kind of
foil, likewife, mews itfelf in the breaking
up of ftubbles for a fallow ; a very ftrong
draught of cattle is then neceflary to work
it. It breaks up in vaft pieces, almoft as
hard as iron. When it is worked fine, it
will run like mortar, with a heavy fpring or
fummer fhower. Thefe foils will yield very
great crops of beans, and wheat, &c. They
muft, like others, be cultivated by fome
body ; but I would advife every friend of
mine to have nothing to do with them;
never to be captivated with feeing large
crops upon the land ; for he does not fee,
at the fame time, the expences at which
they are raifed.
I do not, in mentioning this foil, any
more than the reft, notice the weeds they
produce : I have never found that fign
worth a groat. For the different manage-
ment of farmers, the purchafe of feed, the
change of manures, &c. &c. all confound
the
( 5 )
the natural conne&ian between weeds and
foil.
The next kind of ftiff foil I (hall men-
tion is the mouldering, crumbling clay ;
which is, of all other foils, the beft. If
you obferve a field of this land in winter,
it will lie perfectly dry, if well ploughed
an4 water-furrowed. You may walk
over a winter fallow, or wheat field of it,
foon after rain, without adhering to your
fhoes, and may eafily pufh it about, like
garden moulds, with the foot. It will
bear ploughing much earlier in fpring, than
any other ftiff foil. If you view a ftubble
of it, you will find with a fpade, that it
will break up loofe and mellow. Any
drains take full effect on this foil, and will,
if ever fo wet, lay it perfectly dry: At the
fame time, it does not run to mortar with
fudden rains. Whenever a farmer meets
with fuch a foil as this, it is of no confe-
quence to enquire what crops it has yielded,
or any fuch circumftances : He may depend
on its bearing plenty of corn, with good
management. If it has been defective, it
muft infallibly be owing to a wrong method
of culture. A flat fituation is, to all ftifF
B 3 foils.
foils, unfavourable; a fall, or inclination
fome way or other, adds much to the value.
Such a foil may exift unknown, for want
of hollow draining; but then any little
rifmg place, that is dry, will, in all pro-
bability, prove an index to the reft.
Twenty {hillings an acre, for this land, when
drained, is a much deeper rent than 5*^.
for the other clay.
The next foil I mall mention is that of
the ftiff loam, which is neareft allied to
brick earth ; this is in general an unkindly
foil, without plenty of manure. It is known
in winter, by being very adhefive upon
walking over it ; is not fo retentive of water
as the firft-mentioned clay, being very eafily
drained ; but is long in drying, even when
little or no water is feen upon it : For which
reafon, it is generally late in the fpring be-
fore it can be ploughed. When quite dry, it
breaks up neither fo hard and cloddy as
the firft clay, nor near fo crumbly and mel-
low as the fecond. If it is in ftubble, it is
apt to be covered with a minute green mofs.
There are many varieties of this foil, but
all agree in moft of thefe circumftances, and
in being what the farmers call poor, cold,
hungry
( 7 )
hungry land. When hollow ditched, arid
greatly manured, it yields any thing ; bat
thofe who hire it fhould forget neither of
thefe expences. It turns to the bcft profit
laid down to grafs.
The gravelly foils are numerous in their
kind, and very different in their natures.
Warm, dry, found gravelly loams, are
eafily diftinguifhed in winter : They admit
ploughing all winter through, except in
very wet times ; always break up quite in
a crumbly ftate of running moulds ; and if
a Hubble, will dig, on trial by the fpade,
in the fame manner. If under turnips,
you may perceive, by walking through
them, that it will bear their being fed off.
This foil will pay well for manuring, but
will anfwer very well in a good eourfe of
management, without any.
The wet, cold, fpringy gravel is a very
bad foil ; it is known, in winter, by the
wetnefs of it ; and in fpring, by its binding
with hafty mowers : It never breaks up
in a crumbly ftate, nor mews a meliowncis
under the fpade. Hollow drains greatly
correct its ill qualities, but it requires a
B 4 prodigious
( 8 )
prodigious quantity of manure to ferti-
lize it.
Some gravels are fo (harp and burning,
that they produce nothing except in wet
fummers ; but fuch are known at any feafon
of the year.
Sands are as various as gravels, and are
all eafily difcoverable in their natures : The
rich black fand is, I believe, as profitable a
foil as any in the world : It has, at all fea-
fons, a dry foundnefs, and at the fame time
a moifture without wetnefs, which fecures
crops even in dry fummers. The fpade is
fufficient to try it, at any feafon of the
year.
The light fandy loam is, likewife, an
admirable foil ; it will bear ploughing, like
the preceding, all winter long, and appears
quite found and mellow when tried with
the fpade. If it lies under a winter fallow,
the beft way to judge of its richnefs, is to
remark the fize of the furrows, and the
degree of adhefion in the foil. In clay foils,
the great excellency is the refembling fand
in many circumftances ; and in the fandy
ones, the fimilarity of clay. Thus ftiff
land, being dry and crumbly, is a great
perfection 5
( 9 )
perfection ; and light land, being ftiff and
adhefive, is an equally good fign.
When therefore the farmer views a light
fandy loam, whofe found drynefs is acknow-
ledged, he may prefume the foil is rich^ in
proportion to its ftiffnefs : If it falls flat in
powder, and has no adhefion, it is much
to be fufpecT:ed that it is a mere fand, A
dry found land, that is pretty ftiff, is al-
ways good. . However, fuch land being
feldom without a crop of turneps, the fize
of them (if they are not manured, which
is very eafily feen) will mew, in many
cafes, the richnefs of the land.
The mere fandy foil, that has fcarce any
adhefion, is alfo eafily known : Upon this
land it is of importance to view the crop,
or crops. Drynefs being the great charac-
teriftic of that foil, a wet feafon ever proves
the beft of all manures ; fo if a poor crop
is found upon fuch land, in a wet year,
there is a ftrong prefumption that the foil
is nought, at leaft, in its prefent (late:
And if the tenant is to be at the expence of
marling, chalking, clay, or any other ex-
traordinary manuring, the expence muft
be confidered in the rent.
A general
( 10 }
A general rule with all Tandy foils is,
that, if dry, the ftiffeft is the beft ; except
the black moift fand, which exceeds them
all.
The white chalky foil is, in general, of
a cold, wet, fpewy (as the farmers term it)
nature ; will not bear ploughing in winter,
unlefs the weather is very dry or frofry;
runs exceflively to mortar with a heavy
ihower, when in a pulverifed ftate. It is
a cold hungry foil, of little profit, except
with very peculiar management ; and an-
fwers beil if tolerably dry laid down to fain-
foine.
The moory foils, in a ftate of cultivation,
are too inconfiderable to mention parti-
cularly,
I am fenfible there are a multitude of
other forts of land feemingly diftindl from
thefe, which are here unnoticed; but it
fhould be remembered that the feveral kinds
of land, like the ihades of colours, blend
into each other, till all diftindtion is loft.
Thus many foils are found partaking of
both clay and loam, in fo equal a manner,
that it is difficult to aflign it to either. We
fee the fame thing between gravel and
loam*
loam, chalk and clay, &c. &c.\ and befides
thefe confufions of diftinclion, each fort of
foil varies infinitely, and every quality in
each foil the fame. An attempt to charac-
terife each variation, as well as each foil,
would be an endlefs, and an impracticable
work : I have, therefore, purpofely pafled
by feveral variations of which I have even
had particular experience, and ftuck to the
diftinguifhing marks alone. It muft un-
doubtedly be left to the perfon who views
a field, to determine which particular foil it is
neareft allied to ; and what qualities, good
or bad, are moft to be difcovered in it.
In refpect to grafs lands, the marks for
judgment are different. Thefe are beft
examined by attending, firft, to the circum-
ftances in which they are moft deficient;
and then to fuch as are in their favour.
The more feafons grafs fields are viewed
in, the better ; though any one is fufficient
for a tolerable judgment.
One evil attending thefe lands is, that of
being too wet ; the figns of which can never
be miftaken, or overlooked, in any feafon
of the year. In winter, it is at once per-
ceived by walking on it; at all times of
the
the year, by the herbage which generally
abounds on it, fuch as rufhes, flags, and a
great quantity of mofs; and alfo by the
colour of the grafs, which is moftly blue
at the points; fometimes of a dirty yellow
hue, and always coarfe. If the foil is the
firft defcribed ftiff clay, and the furf ace level,
the evil will be very difficult of cure; if of
the other fort, of clay or (tiff loams, drain-
ing will have great effects. To difcover
the foil, the ditches fhould be examined ;
and if tried here and there with a fpade, it
will be the better.
Another evil, to which grafs fields on
thefe foils are liable, is that of being hide-
bound and mofly, without an excefs of wet ;
this is very perceptible in winter, and
when fed. If a tenant is not allowed to
plough fuch, they will require a great
expence in manure.
Grafs fields on gravelly foils are, if the
gravel is fharp, very apt to burn (as the
farmers call it), in dry fummers; it is a
a fault, in fuch years, but they give great
and fweet crops, in wet ones, provided it
is a gravelly loam. An abfolute gravel
fhould never be under grafs. A farmer
fhould
fiiould not, however, regret having a
pafture or two of this fort in his farm,
being of excellent ufe in winter, for feed-
ing fheep and lambs on with turneps, &e.
The low meadows, whatever the foil on
the banks of rivers and brooks, are in ge-
neral very good, but often fubjedl to the
terrible misfortune of being overflown in
fummer; which not only ruins crops of
hay before they are cut, but carries them
away perhaps when juft made. This is a
mifchief which leflens the value of fuch
lands greatly, and fhould always be en-
quired into. Winter floods, if not too
frequent, are beneficial.
Some farms have the reputation of
always rotting fheep, if they are fituated
very low, and have much wet grafs land.
The report may be very juft; but, I be-
lieve, it will generally be found that this
quality is but an attendant of others already
noted ; and that the cure of common wet-
nefs, by thorough draining, will at the
fame time remedy this evil.
Many grafs fields, on all foils, confift of
fo bad an herbage as to be of little value.
Made up of all forts of weed trumpery, and
the
the worft and coarfeft of grafTes, if a land-*
lord will not allow fuch to be ploughed, the
farmer fhould minute the rent accordingly.
This fault is vifible at all feafons.
As to a general poverty of foil, of what-
ever fort, owing to bad management, fuch
as perpetual mowing no manuring
or a general inattention ; the degree of fuch
a ftate will always be evident, whether
viewed in winter, fpring, or fummer, un-
der hay or fed ; but the favourablenefs, or
unfavourablenefs of the feafon, fhould not
be forgot in fuch a view.
The 'vifible excellencies of grafs lands
are recited in a few words. A good crop
of grafs in a wet fummer is not to be relied
on, but if it happens to be a dry one, the
fign is by no means to be rejected.
The goodnefs of the herbage is to be feen
at all feafons, even in winter.
Lying dry and found, holding a good
verdure, and blotched with patches of yet
deeper green ; thefe are, in winter, unde-
ceiving proofs of excellent pafture. If
fituated on a hill, or any fpot that gives
fufpicion of burning, try it with a fpade.
4 A river
A river that does not overflow, miming
through a farm, is a very favourable cir~
cumftance, as it indicates a great probability
of all the grafs fields being well watered ;
that is, for cattle. Failures, that have
neither a river nor ponds in them, are of
little worth ; the inconveniencies of truft-
ing cattle in fuch, are too great to be fuf-
fered.
There are, in many farms, very refufe
wafte paftures, never mown ; over-run with
mole and ant hills, bufhes, brambles, &c*
for which very little rent is demanded,
Such are by no means to be ranked in the
tenant's chapter of evils ; for no farm would
be more profitable than one confifting
wholly of fuch. The hills cut up, and
mixed with a little lime dung, afhes, chalk,
or marie, make an admirable compofr. The
bufhes and brambles are eafily grubbed up,
and will pay for the work. Then the fields
fhould be examined. If a light gravelly or
fandy foil, they will pay very well under
the plough ; and if a clay or loam, manure
them well, which will difcover what the
herbage is. If good, leave them in grafs ;
if bad, convert them into tillage for a few
years,
years, under an engagement (if required)
to lay them well down again. Such old
and forfaken grafs fields are to be reckoned
among the moft profitable paftures. But
the rent mould not be above i o s. an acre.
CHAP. II.
Of the Contiguity of the Fields.
COMMON farmers too often overlook this
circumftance. If they attended to it
as much as their profit required, we mould
fee landlords reforming their eftates, in this
particular, more than at prefent is the cafe.
There is not a more expenfive perplexing
circumftance in any farm, than the fields
being in a ftraggling, disjointed fituation.
The difadvantages are numerous and ftrik-
ing.
I. The farmer's bufmefs is in no refpects
under his eye. He muft take a walk, and
perhaps a ride, through other meus grounds-,
to difcover or view any circumftance of
which he wants to be acquainted. If fields
in fuch a fituation are no further diftant
than many of his contiguous ones, yet will
they
( 17 )
they not be fo often viewed: A walk at
home examines fomething, from the mo*
jnent a man leaves his houfe ; but when hd
has to crofs land indifferent to him, his dif-
jointed fields will not have an equal fhare
of his attention ; and every one knows the
proverb of the Mqfter^s eye^ &c.
II. All the operations of ploughing*
harrowing, rolling, &c. &c. are performed
with an encreafe of expence; the going
and coming waftes time by degrees, and,
in the period of a long leafe, amounts to a
fum that would furprife one who never
thought of the matter. Add to this, fuch
fields cannot be manured but at an expence
of double the reft of the farm, confequently
they will never have any advantage of that
fort. They could never have any amend-
ment at all, unlefs they lay upon a bed of
marie, chalk, or clay, which the farmer
had fpirit enough to dig for, or folded with
fheep. But then it is natural for a man
to like to have fuch improvements, where
he can enjoy the view without a walk or
ride through other mens grounds: Befides,
there are thoufands of fields of this fort
where no fuch manure is to be had.
VOL. I. G III. Aa~
III. Another confequence of disjointed
fields, is the having an extraordinary quan-
tity of fencing to keep in repair ; a cir-
cumftance very troublefome and expen-
five.
IV. Such fields are, in general, much
more expofed to depredations from neigh-
bour's cattle, &c. &c. &c. than others that
are contiguous to the home ones. In thofe,
through which the mafter or fome of his
people are conftantly paffing and repairing,
accidents, it is true, may happen, but
then they are prefently difcovered and re-
medied. A gate left open, by carelefs-
people, or broke in pieces by fox -hunters,
very often does a farmer great mifchief at
home; how much more pernicious muft it
prove at a diflance, and where himfelf, or
fervants come but feldom ?
For thefe and many other reafons, I
would never advife a man to hire a farm
that was not contiguous at leaft. It is a
circumftance very greatly in favour of a.
farm that it is circular, or at leaft perfectly
compact, with no other man's grounds-
jetting into it. Numerous advantages at-
tend fuch a difpofition of fields. One very
important
important is, the fencing fo many of yoiir
fields yourfelf, and leaving the fhorter line
of outward fence againft other farms. In
a compact farm, a man never (except in the 1
ring-fence) hedges and ditches only one
field at a time ; he neceflarily does two at
once. But thefe advantages are too ap-
parent, at the firft mention, to need eluci-
dating.
If the fields of a farm are in this conti-
guous and compact fituation, a man mould
value it in the rent he eftimates the land
at: The circumftance is as much worth an
annual payment, as any acre in any fafiri.
Six-pence, or nine-pence, an acre (in- rich
countries), fuch advantages muft be cheap
at. This I know, I would give a milling, or
eigh teen-pence, an acre more for a compact
farm, than for a disjointed one of the very
fame nominal value ; and this without fup-
pofmg the evil fo great as it is found hi
many farms. Some lands are fo little corr-r
tiguous as not to be worth) of any man's
money, half a crown an acre ; which,
compact, would be cheap at twelve mil-
lings,
C 2 CHAP.
CHAP. III.
Of the probability of increafmg the quantity
of Land.
THE great object of farmers, whether
gentlemen or common hufbandmen,
(if they make it their bufmefs and profef-
fion) is to advance their fortunes. Mer-
chants and manufacturers, when they
increafe in riches, enlarge their trade ; and
farmers, in the fame manner, are defirous
of a more confiderable bufmefs, as foon as
they poffefs a fum of money beyond the
amount of what is requifite for their pre^-
fent farms.
The moft common fault a man mould
guard againft, in this cafe, is the wrong
application of his profit. Unlefs his farm
is perfectly improved and cultivated, he
may ever depend on it almoft as a maxim,
that it is more profitable completely to
cultivate one farm, before he attempts ano-
ther.
Fields, of which he has experience, has
obferved, and felt their defects, in which
he
lie has perhaps tried the effect of draining
or manures, are much more likely to
repay him for an additional expence, than
others of which he has had no experience ;
not becaufe the foil of one is more improve-
able than that of the other, but by reafon
of the greater (kill with which he will
infallibly work upon the firft. Add to
this, that one hundred acres, well cultivated,
will pay more clear profit than two hun-
dred indifferently cultivated.
For thefe reafons, I venture to advife
all farmers, when they have a fum of
money ready to expend, always to view
their farms before they think of additions ;
and confider what improvements, either in
draining, manuring with marie, chalk,
clay, lime, town-manures, &c. &c. &c.
can be made on their lands; and, if any
are to be found that require all or near all
his money, to expend it in fuch improve-
ments, before he thinks of adding to his
farm.
All fuch improvements, let me add, are
a much better and more fure method of
difpofing money at interefl^ than any others
that can be found.
C 3 Bui
But if, contrary to this ftate of the cafe,
his farm is all under a complete culture,
and a fum of money yet in his hand fuffi-
cient for making an addition to his bu-
fmefs ; hiring a frefh parcel of land then
becomes abfolutely requilite, or a removal
to a larger farm. Now, of thefe circum-
ftances, the addition in general is moft pro-
fitable, ten to one. I fuppofe his old farm
in perfect order; fuch an one cannot be
left without great fofs; in fpite of all
eftimates, by which a new tenant may pay
the old one for improvements, the latter
will infallibly be the lofer. Further, he
will probably have his work to do over
again in his new farm, and, it may be, not
with fo good a profpec~t of profit as be-
fore. Add to this, the lofs of moving,
which, in fome cafes, may be confiderable ;
and, upon the whole, it will be found
much more beneficial to make an addition
to an old farm, than to move into a new
one.
For thefe reafons, it is a point of much
importance, when a man hires a farm, to
know that there is a probability of having
additions made to it, in cafe he grows rich
enough
( 23 )
enough to want them. This probability
depends on many circumftances, which
there is no neceflhy to overlook.
A farm may be one among many con-
tiguous belonging to one landlord ; in
which cafe there is a better chance for an
addition, than if it was the whole eftate of
the landlord, or all he pofleffed in that
neighbourhood. Since, if a neighbour's
farm is vacant, no one can afford to give
fo good a rent as a farmer contiguous to
it j and, confequently, he has a better chance
for iti than one whofe land is at a diftance.
A farm may join up, or even be almoft
enclofed, by one infinitely larger than itfelf,
and too large for the occupier of the firft
to think of hiring. In this cafe, the fmall
farm is in a much greater probability to be
thrown to the great one, than the great
one to be annexed to the fmaller. Con-
fequently this fituation is, in the refpecl:
we are now confidering, a very unfavour-
able one.
For the fame reafon, it is very advan-
tageous to hire a farm that joins upon
many others not larger than itfelf, but
rather fmaller. In this cafe there is an
C 4 evident
evident probability of acquiring an addition,
and no danger of being converted into an
addition one's felf.
Sometimes farms are to be had of no
determinate quantity of land ; but as much
or as little as a man chufes to hire. Such
are very favourable opportunities, and par-
ticularly valuable. It then depends on the
farmer alone to take juft the breadth of
land which may be advantageoufly flocked,
and conducted with the fum of money he
is poflefTed of; by which means his for-
tune is thrown into the moft advantageous
road that is poffible : but then he ought to
be efpecially upon his guard, not to take
more than he can thoroughly command. A
farmer fhould ever be ftronger than his farm.
I mail, in thefe fheets, draw up fome cal-
culations of the proportion between a given
fum of money and quantity of land.
All thefe circumftances, whether they exift
in a greater or lefs degree, ought to be
reduced to fome eftimate by the farmer,
when he views the farm. If every point
is not confidered, a juft idea cannot be
gained of any.
CHAP.
, C H A P. IV.
Of the comparifon between the covenants of
the leafe, and the nature of the farm.
MANY landlords are very tenacious of
the covenants which they have
ufually inferted in their leafes; fo that a
man when he approves a farm, and agrees
to the rent, may find the conditions of
tenure propofed to him, fuch as are incom-
patible with his intereft, his defigns, and
even with good hufbandry.
The merit or reafonablenefs of covenants
muft be confidered always, on comparifon
with the nature of the farm : It is for want
of this confideration that unreafonable
covenants are ever propofed. Many land-
lords make it a rule to have all their leafes
alike ; fo that the tenants, who farm fandy
foils, are tied to the fame conditions as
thofe who occupy clay ones ; than which
nothing can be more abfurd. The beft
way of treating this point will be to fpecify
feveral common covenants, and remark the
farms
farms for which they are reafonable and
proper.
I. The tenant not to break up any grafs
land.
This covenant is reafonable when all the
meadows and paftures of a farm are in per-
fection, the herbage of the right fort, and
free from noxious weeds, mofs, &c. &c.
It would be abfurd to break up fuch grafs,
except in one inftance ; the arable fields
might, by a ftrange jumble of ill manage-
ment, be all upon the clay part of a farm,
and the grafs ones all upon the gravelly
or fandy part; in which cafe, there can
be no doubt but the whole ought to be
reverfed.
But the grafs fields, in many farms, fo
far from being in a ftate of perfection, are
in the very contrary ftate; over-run with
mole and ant hills, bumes, brambles, and
rubbifh of all kinds; infomuch that the
nature of the herbage, whether grafs or
weeds, is a perfect fecret. If the field is
well managed, cleared, grubbed, levelled
and manured, the furface may poffibly
appear covered with rubbifh as noxious as
before, though of a different fort ; but yet
the
( 27 )
the farmer muft not plough it ; fuch a
covenant is abfurd and intolerable.
Some fanners, and even landlords, lay
down fields for continued paflures with a
large portion of ray-grafs, among other
forts : A new tenant will find fuch paftures
facred from the plough ; that is, he will
have fields under what is called grafs, that
will, in a few years, be not worth a groat
an acre ; ftill he is not to plough them
up. Do fuch covenants require any com-
ment ?
Many foils yield exceeding fine crops of
grafs, for feven, eight, or ten years, and
then decline, notwithftanding the beft ma-
nagement : fuch fliould be kept alternately
under grafs and ploughing. In grafs for
ten years, then arable for four or five, and
laid down again. But none of this bene-
ficial husbandry can be pradifed, when a
landlord will not allow any grafs to be
ploughed up.
For thefe and many other reafons, a
tenant fhould be upon his guard, when he
hires a- farm under this covenant, that he
does not prejudife himfelf in fo material a
point. Ancl as a means of not being
crampt
crampt with fuch a covenant, if he fees
land that either does or will want to be
broke up, he ihould offer to engage to lay
down an equal quantity of land, to his
landlord's approbation, before any is ploughed
up ; a covenant fo very fair, that no rea-
fonable landlord can, or will refufe his
aflent.
II. The tenant not to fecond, third* or
fourth crop the arable lands.
A covenant to one of thefe purpofes is
almoft univerfal in every county in Eng-
land ; and yet I will venture to aflert, that
were they ftrictly adhered to, it would ruin
the beft hufbandry of half the kingdom.
A few remarks will prove this.
To fummer fallow light fandy loams,
fands, gravels, or any foil light and dry
enough for turnips, is an antiquated cu-
ftom, and by no means founded on modern
real improvements. The moft advan-
tageous, of common courfes, for fuch
foils is,
j. Turnips.
2. Barley.
3. Clover.
4. Wheat.
Now
Now if two fallows are fubftituted inftead
of the turnips and the clover, the farmer
will get no better crops of barley and wheat
(probably not fo good) nor will the land be
left in a better flate. This fad: holds true
with all foils dry enough for turnips.
I would by all means advife a farmer
(if he defigns to obferve his leafe) never to
leave any of thefe lands under fo abfurd and
unprofitable a covenant. Let, me, however,
remark, that this is only applicable to
farmers who are enlightened enough to hoe
their turnips thoroughly: As to the vil-
lainous flovens who do not hoe, no matter
what reftridtions they lie under.
Upon dry, found, rich clays, as great
crops of wheat are gained after beans in
drills, well and completely hoed (the com-
mon pradice in fome parts of Kent), as
after a fallow : upon fuch foils, therefore, it
is highly requifite that a farmer have the
privilege of pradifmg fo excellent a mode
of hufbandry : but, again, let it be un-
der the provifo of thorough and complete
hoeing ; three times, at leaft.
Many landlords not only confider turnips
(hoed) as a crop 'on all foils, but alfo clover:
I have
( 3 >
I have feen many leafes of farms oh ftrong
clay foils that forbid the tenants fowing
clover, unlefs it was ploughed up by the
firft, or middle of June. Such a covenant
is a great prejudice to a tenant, fmce no
courfe is more profitable for fuch land,
than
1. Beans*
2. Barley*
3* Clover.
4. Wheat.
Another covenant too common is to or-
dain that clover lhall only be fed : Whereas
I know by experiment, among many other
farmers, that better wheat fucceeds clover
twice mown for hay, than fed the whole
year.
Peafe, tares, buckwheat, and other crops
have alfo the quality of preparing admirably
for corn; but thefe crops are more apt to
fail than beans, clover and turnips ; con-
fequently it cannot properly be decided
whether they Ihould be followed by corn
or not, until it is feen whether they fail
or not. So that this (hould be in the far-
mer's breaft ; but if the. leafe allows him
not
not to confider fuch crops as -a fallow, he will
fcarcely fow them to take the chance.
And here it will not be impertinent to
add a- word or two to landlords on this
fubject If they would allow turnips, beans,
clover, peafe, &c. &c. &c. to be fallows,
and at the fame time abfolutely interdict
wheat, rye, barley, or oats being fown on
each other, without the intervention of
one of the above fallow-crops, I am con-
fident they would as fecurely prevent their
tenants from damaging their farms* as
they at prefent do by directing only two or
three crops to a furnmer fallow. Fdr if
the fallow is fuch an one as too common ;
viz. two or three flovenly ploughings, and
then two crops of corn, he land will fuffer
infinitely more than if cropped oftener, in
the manner I have mentioned; and the?
chance of being damaged with bad tenants
is as great, under the common covenants,
as under fueh as I venture to propofe.
In a word, a farmer, when he bargains
for a trad: of land, fhould confider well
the covenants of this fort he is expected to
obferve; for, if his landlord will not allow
turnips, clover, &c. civ. to be reckoned a
fallow,
( 3* )
fallow, he muft make large deductions from
the rent he fixes in his own mind as the
value of the land. If he thinks a farm
worth 1 2 j . an acre, with a reafonable liberty
of cropping, and he afterwards finds him-
felf required to obferve the old farms, the
value is funk 2 s. 6 d. and in many cafes
3-r. 4-r. and even 5 s. an acre. He had
better farm fome lands with a requifite
liberty in cropping, at 15 s. an acre, than
at 7 j. 6 d. without fuch liberty. The
following covenants, refpedting this article,
no farmer need to fear. Wheat, rye, bar-
ley, and oats never to be fown after each
other, or themfelves. Clover, fed or
mown, a fallow on all foils, provided it is
on clay foils, fown with fpring corn that
fucceeded a fallow, or a crop of beans.
Turnips, hoed twice, and if requifite three
times, to be confidered on dry foils as a
fallow.
Beans, peafe, potatoes, &c. fown in
drills, and fome thoroughly hoed three
times ; a fallow : A great crop of peafe in
the broad caft way ; the fame with per-
miffion.
Such
{ S3 )
Such covenants are much more advan-^
tageous to landlords, as well as tenants^
than allowing barley or oats to fucceed
wheat.
III. Tenants not to dig up any grafs bor-
ders .of folds ^
This is a very common covenant in
many parts of England, and a more ridi-
culous one cannot well find its way into a
leafe* It is chiefly to be met with in rich
countries, that is, precifely in thofe where it ,
is the m ft pernicious. In all wet foils* or
fuch as are inclined to moifture, the borders
of fields ihould be twelve inches at leaft
lower than the fields themfelves, for the
general purppfe of draining the furfaee,
and likewife to fave the expence of ufelefs
water furrows. Where borders are higher
than t;he field, deep water furrows muft al-
ways be kept open, parallel with them.
So far from not digging them up, they
ought to be -conftantly kept down by dig*-
ging them frequently, for the turning of
the ploughing inereafes the headland fo
much> that a rifmg is found in a few years,
which fhould always be dug up and carted
on to the land ; and the whole border left
VOL. I. D fo
( 34- )
(b low, that the water may fun out of every
furrow acrofs it into the ditch. In fome
parts of EJJeX) particularly between Brain-
tree and Thaxftead and Hockeril, they dig
away their borders in this manner, and
find great advantages in the practice : If
you view a farm in that country that has
been in the hands of a floven, you will be
fhewn the high grafs borders, as an ad-
vantage to the new tenant in the manur-
ing way.
I have mentioned this covenant not as
one of capital importance, but to remind
the farmer to requeft, that the old barbarous
tenure may be left out of his leafe.
Note, however, that when I condemn
this covenant, I do not plead for the tenant
having a liberty of ploughing into the hedge,
fo as the landlord mall not be able to take
a ride round his own fields : there is no-
thing reafonable in that : only that he
may dig them up, and carry the earth on to
the land ; after which, he mould fow them
with hay feeds, and by the time a good
turf is come, it will be proper to repeat the
ftme work : But whether in grafs or not,
the fpace to be left clear from the plough.
IV.
( 35 )
IV. The hay made in each pafture to be
fed in that pafture.
This covenant I have known in more
leafes than one ; and a more wretched one
cannot be imagined. There is not a more
pernicious cuftom than that of feeding the
hay in the fields. The grafs is poached,
there is no manure raifed, and the hay
itfelf is half wafted. I would never fuffer
a tenant to ftack a fmgle load in the field ;
but infift on all being led home to the ftack-
yard, I would not hire the beil grafs farm
in England under fuch a covenant.
V. Turnips not to be fed on the land.
In countries that know any thing of the
turnip culture, the very mention of this
covenant is fufficient to raife a fmile of in-
dignation : And yet I have reafon to infert
it here, for it was actually put into my
own leafe on a farm, part of it a dry gra-
velly foil ; but I rejected it : It is, however,
a common covenant in many leafes, and I
fuppofe had its original among the Irifh,
when they burnt their dunghills, and
made their horfes draw by the tail.
If a farm, however, is all a clay foil, and
wet, this is no bad interdict ; but it would
D 2 be
( 3* )
be as well to prohibit turnips, in that cafe,
altogether.
VI. A prohibition from f owing particular
crops-t fuch as oats, ftax, rape^ teafils^ &c.
&c.
Thefe are common covenants through-
out many eftates fituated on rich foils.
Landlords areapprehenfive, that the virtue
of their land will be exhaufted by them ;
yet this idea is at beft but weak. It is un-
reafonable that a tenant fhould have land in
his hands, and be prevented from applying
it to the beft ufe, without an injury to the
owner; and his own intereft will force
him, whether he would or not, to be at-
tentive to the good of the land, in being
careful of his own advantage. Except
oats and rape, none of thefe crops will an-
fwer without plenty of manure, and un-
common tillage, in preparing as well as
hoeing, weeding, .&c.; infomuch that the
moft exhaufting crop, in its nature, may
eafily be turned into the moft ameliorating
one. Lucerne, I thinfc, muft be of a
very exhaufting nature ; for the roots are
immenfe,. and the quantity of the produce
prodigious; and yet it is well known by
many
( 37 )
many experiments, that, when tranfplanted
or drilled, it is a very improving one;
which is wholly owing to hoeing, and
weeding. As to rape and oats, they
are not more exhaufting than many other
common crops, fuch particularly as wheat,
which I know from experiment to do more
mifchief to the land than oats, or any other
grain; not as I apprehend from any pe-
culiarity in its nature, but from being on
the ground fo much longer; on which ac-
count fo many more weeds have time to
grow, and perfect their feeds. And with
oats I have little doubt but the effect of a
collateral caufe is taken for that of the
grain itfelf. Oats are generally fown the
laft crop of a courfe, whether long or fhort,
confequently they leave the land in a worfe
condition than any of the preceding ones ;
and this has been falfely attributed to the
nature of the grain. Had it been cu
ftomary to fow them like wheat, or barley,
on -a fallow; no fuch idea would ever have
fpread itfelf.
But why mould landlords, for very tri-
vial reafons at beft, oppofe the culture of
fuch vegetables as the good of the country
D 3 require
( 38 )
require to be fown ? It is high prices that
fets the farmer upon cultivating uncom-
mon crops. It is not beneficial for the
manufactures of this kingdom that flax and
teafils, for inftance, fhould be extrava-
gantly dear ; but that farmers mould in-
creafe the culture of them, as the beft me-
thod of reducing their price. This cove-
nant, therefore, is in diredT: oppofition to
the kingdom's intereft; which, like all
public matters, one would fuppofe to give
place to private intereft ; but here it gives
place to private caprice.
There is no vegetable of fo exhaufting
9. nature, but may be cultivated to the
mutual benefit of the tenant and landlord;
if it is not fo, it muft be owing alone to a
want of proper management.
This covenant may in many cafes (except
oats) be of no confequence to a tenant ; but
there are others in which his agreement to
it muft fubmit to a valuation per acre of
deducted rent. It all depends on the foil of
the farm.
Thefe covenants might be. multiplied
greatly, but the above are fufficient to cau-
tion
( 39 )
tion the farmer of what he agrees to,
without valuing all as fo much rent.
CHAP. V.
Mi
Of the nature andjlate of the fences.
article is a very important one ;
JL infomuch that it is fufficient alone to
render fome farms unprofitable bargains,
which otherwife would be very beneficial
ones. I divide fences into the following
forts, viz.
I. Alive hedges,
II. Dead hedges.
III. Alive hedges and ditches.
IV. Dead hedges and ditches.
V. Ditches,
VI. Pales.
VII. Walls. '
I mall firft mention hedges that are
alive ; fuch are the only fences in many
parts of England, and particularly in Hert-
ford/Jjire. Be they ever fo good of their
fort they form a very incomplete fence, as
I have experienced to my coft. The only
method of making them any at all is by
D 4 plaihing;
( 40 )
plaming ; but, in that way, a gap is very
poorly remedied, fmce the only means of
flopping them is the bending down large
flicks acrofs the open fpot ; which, if they
happen to He fallows, willows, hafel, or
any thing but ftrong bufhes, have the ef-
fect of a rail, but not of pales ; fo that you
often fee gaps with rails, that grow acrofs
them, fufficient to flop horfes, ' cows, &c.
but which are no fence againft fheep and
hogs ; and a gap made in fuch hedges, foon
after they are plafhed, is almoll irremedi-
able.
A farm that is fenced in this manner
may fatisfy the tenants that have not been
ufed to any thing better ; but one who
moves from a country in which ditches are-
deep and wide, will never be fatisfied with
fuch imperfect fences. The confequence of
which is the great expence of digging
ditches over the whole farm ; a matter
reduced to exact calculation prefently; fa
that a farmer may know his expence at
once : but never let him hire fuch a farm
without remembering this article. My
prefent farm in Hertford/hire had not a
fmgle
( 41 )
fingle ditch over the whole, and I am not?
t work in digging .them to every hedge.
For thefe reafons, the fences of fuch
countries, however good of their fort, yet
require a great and immediate expence.
But if even fuch fences are much out of
repair, the new tenant will have an addi-
tional expence in bringing them into good
order. Perhaps he will find many of them
to new-plant, a number of confiderable
gaps in the reft to fupply with thorns, and
others fo fhrubby, and ftinted in their
growth, that many loads of bufhes will be
wanted to form any hedge at all. All thefe
points .muft be well attended to, and re-
duced to calculation; which, by a man
that is ufed to bufmefs, is done prefently,
find with little trouble.
II. Some farms I have feen that are
fenced with dead hedges only, without
any part of them living ; dead bumes in-
terlaced among flakes drove into the
ground: I would moft heartily advife
every farmer, that has an opportunity of
hiring a farm fo fenced, to avoid it as Jic
would certain ruin. Though all other
pircumftances were agreeable to him, this
alone
( 4* )
alone would be fufficient to render it a rnoft
pernicious bargain. The only calculation
the cafe admits, is to plan a complete new
inclofure of the whole farm, with ditches
and banks, well planted with thorns, and
fecured at top by dead hedges to defend the
young quick. He may prefently calculate
what the expence will be, and confequently
know what rent the farm under that cir-
cumftance is worth : but he will find, it
will fo reduce the fum demanded, that no
hope of agreement will remain. Leave
fuch farms to the llovenly tenants that have
been ufed to them, and to the indolent
landlords, who can bear to poflefs fuch
wretched eftates.
III. Farms that are fenced with live
hedges and ditches are fortunately circum^
ftanced in being, in this refpect, in per-
fection. The hedge and the ditch are a
mutual defence to each other ; and, when
good of a fort, are impenetrable to man or
beaft.
When a farmer views a farm of this
kind, he fhould principally attend to the
hedges ; to obferve that there is plenty of
green wood in them, and not many gaps
fupplied
( 43 )
fupplied by that which is dead : for, if
thefe circumftances are faulty, he will find
his expences, in the courfe of a leafe, run
very high, and his farm very ill fenced
into the bargain.
As to the ditches in a country where
they are common, the worfe they are the
better; for they are generally, in that cafe,
filled up with the overflowings of the land,
and the rotting of the hedge wood ; fo that
the ditches are fo many dunghills, and will
pay five times over the expence of cleaning
and enlarging.
The ftate of fences of this fort, upon the
whole, are found under a great variety of
circumftances : Calculations mould be made
by the new tenant of thofe expences which
are extraordinary, and beyond what may
reafonably be expected in a farm, the leafe
of which is run out.
IV. Dead hedges with ditches are liable
almoft to as many objections as dead
hedges only : A man who hires a farm fo
fenced, muft be fure not to forget the cx"-
pence of planting all the banks with quick,
find then new-making the hedges, or he,
will
Hfc.44 '),
find himfelf involved in ruinous
expences.
V. There are many objections to fuch
farms as are fenced with ditches alone.
They muft be wet ones, or cattle will not
be kept in by them ; and wet ditches are
never found but in wet foils, which moft
require draining; and confequently dry
ditches, that is, fuch as the water runs
freely out of. It is a moft pernicious thing
in clays to be forced to keep the ditches
half full of water, for the fake of making
fences of them : For which reafon it is
always advifeable, if the water can be car-
ried off, to make banks to the ditches, and
plant them, converting" the wet ditches
into fuch fences as are ufed in countries
fenced by hedges and ditches. This will
be a great expence, but eafily reduced to
exact calculation.
VI. There are not many farms enclofed
with pales, but fome I have feen. When
fuch are to be hired, the farmer fhould be
very attentive to their ftate; for, if he is to
keep them in repair, the expence will be
immenfe, unlefs he finds them in a per-
fect condition j the pofts and rails all
found
( 45 )
found and ftrong, and the pales the famej
for, if they are the leaft unfound, and he
takes a long leafe, his expences will run up
almoft beyond calculation. In . this cafe,
too much caution cannot be ufed. The
beft agreement would he. to .engage, as fail:
as the pales decay, to pull them quite up, an<J
make a new hedge a-rxl ditch well planted,
and to convert the found parts of the old
fence into mending fuch'as remain; and
this would be for the landlord's intereft a$
well as the tenant's.
VII. Wails are common fences in , nu-
merous counties, where quarries are^fburKl
under the furface, or many fepara.te large
ftones upon it that will aclmit breaking.
Well laid, either dry or in mortar, they
are the bffl of all fences ; and a moft fa-
vourable circumftance it is to a farm, to
have it fo well inclofecl as to leave the farmer
in an abfolute certainty pf : jmding his cattle
where he turns them; colts as well as
cows, and even bogs ei$ well as #>eeps
Such excellent fences add greatly to the va~
lue of a farm, and ought to be calculated by
a new tenant, as well as any difadvanr
tageous circumftances I have mentioned.
But
( 46 )
But the great point to be attended to is
the nature of the walls ; for many that I
have feen would coft as much to keep them
in repair as almoft the worft of hedges.
Such as are built of lime-ftones, and fhiver
out of the quarry in fmall pieces, are very
bad, and will fall upon very trifling
aflaults, and even by high winds. Thefe
walls are a rent-charge to tenants.
On the contrary, thofe that are cut into
the form of bricks, only larger and laid
even together in courfes, will ftand as long
as a brick-wall, though raifed without
mortar.
Likewife large pieces of rough grit ftone,
that will not burn into lime, make excel-
lent walls, and have a great firmnefs from
their roughnefs, which holds them to-
gether.
A diftindion mould always be made be-
tween thefe kinds ; the two laft will ftand
an hundred years, as well as many hours;
but the former fort are very expenfive in
repairs. Proper eftimates, in thefe cafes,
fhould always be made, that a farmer may
know with fome regularity his future
expences.
Another
( 47 )
Another part of fences common to all
thefe kinds is that of gates, gate-pofts,
and ftiles. Thefe being expenfive to repair,
fhould be viewed with attention, that the
farmer may not be furprifed in a few years
with expences of which he had no ex-
pectation.
Thefe are points of great confequence,
let the fences be of what nature they may,
and require exact eftimates, not only with
an eye to a valuation of rent, but alfo to
that calculation which a farmer ever makes
of his ability to hire and ftock any farm
that is offered him : For if expences -come
in the courfe of his leafe which he did not
expect or think of, they will probably come
likewife without meeting a preparation to
receive them ; which is, in every refpect,
an unfortunate circumftance, and ought to
be guarded againft with the utmoft fore-
fight.
&i^'V f .
CHAP. VL
Of the buildings on a farm-* and their
repairs.
INE E D not remark that this is fo importan$
an object to a man wfro hires a farm, .
that it cannot be too much attended to.
Firft, he mould view the dwelling-houfe,
and examine whether it be fuch an one as
the fize of the farm gives a man reafon to
expedt; for no landlord can fuppofe that
a farmer, who is able to hire 3 or 400 /. a
year, will fubmit to live in a houfe pro-
portioned to 30 or 40 /. a year. A fuffi-
ciency of room for lodging conveniently a
large family, and as many fervants as the
farm requires, is abfolutely neceflary*
However, as the dwelling is rather a matter
of convenience and fatisfaction than pro-
fit, it depends upon the difpofition of the
man more than on any eftimates of profit
and lofs. - Not fo, however, with the
Offices.
It is certainly of very bad confequence
not to have all the proper conveniences
( 49 ,)
requifite for a farm; and yet multitudes
are without half; but the occupiers are fure
to fuffer proportionally. This point vail
be beft confidered by making a lift of fuch
buildings as are abfolutely neceffary, ac-
cording to the common practice of bufmefs ;
of a perfect one in this refpect, it will be
confidered hereafter.
I. Barns.
II. Stables/
III. Cow-houfe*
IV. Granary.
V. Hog-fties.
VI. Hen-houfe*
VII. Cart-lodge,
VIII. Farm -yard.
Thefe, every one will allow, are indif*
penfable.
I. As to barns, the cuftom of different
counties varies greatly : In feme fcarce any
barns are ufed, only thrafhing-floors, with
yards around them, for building the ftacks
of corn in. Thefe farmers have not fo
much in this point to attend to, as they
cannot expect, how much foever they con-
demn the cqftom, that landlords will raife
barns contrary to the cuftom of a country.
VOL. T. E But
( 50 )
But where it is ufual to have barn-room
fufficient for the crops, a man fhould at-
tentively examine whethqr there is fuch
room, and alfo take notice of what the
barn-floors are laid : Many are even at this
day made of clay ; fuch fhould be rejected,
as a fine bright fample of corn cannot be
had from off them. They ought to be of
oak plank 2 or 3 inches thick. Another
point he fhould not overlook, is the fize
of the thrafhing-floors ; for if they are
fmall, and he is at any time in a hurry to
get his corn out, fo a's to fet feveral men in
at a time, he will indubitably find them
raife their price upon him for want of good
room, and with great reafon.
II. The article of {tables, or ox-houfes,
is a very important one. If a farm has
been cultivated by a fet of flovens, who
have not given it above half the requifite
tillage, nor ever thought of keeping a
team for the carriage of manures, probably
he will not find half the room requifite for
the draught cattle he purpofes to keep : It
is never to be taken, of courfe, that a farm
has ftabling, &c. enough, becaufe the old
tenant has not complained. He ihould
therefore
8
therefore examine whether there is room
enough for his teams, proper places for
the hanging up the harnefs, alfo for the
corn chefts. That there be a chaff-
bing or houfe adjoining, fo that the chaff
may not need to be carried, and confequently
half loft and blown away ; the hay cham-
ber or houfe adjoining. Thefe circum-
fiances are not connected with any thing in
a complete ftile : They are abfolutely re-
quifite to all ftables for farms of 40 /. a
year, as well as 400 /.
III. A houfe for cows is actually necef-
fary in all farms wherein that animal is
kept ; and yet I have viewed many that
have no convenience of this fort. The
cow-houfe fhould contain yoaks, ties, hooks,
or whatever other name they may be called
by ; that is, places to faften each cow in
for milking, fuckling, &c. one for every
cow the farm will maintain. There mould
alfo be in it bings, or fmall apartments for
the calves, each large enough to hold three
or four, or five, but not larger; adjoining,
or over, fhould be a place for hay, and alfo
another for ftraw*
E 2 IV. Little
IV. Little is neceflaTy to be added con-
cerning the granary ; only to take care
that there is one fufficient for the fize of
the farm; and not only for part of one
crop, but for all the wheat and barley of
two crops at leaft; that, although a farmer
may be obliged to thraih his corn on ac-
count of feeding, his cattle with the ftraw,
yet that he may not be forced to fell at a
difadvantageous price, for want of room to
flow his corn : This is a point of confe-
quence. There are many other requifites
for a good granary, but it is not to be ex-
pected that landlords will alter and build
more than is abfolutely reafonable. It is,
however, much to be wifhed that the
granary may be fo managed, as rats and
mice may not be able to get in it.
V. The conveniences for hogs are very
deficient in many farms : a fufficiency for
the fows that are kept, for each one ftie,
and alfo another for the fatting hogs, arc
abfolutely requifite. In a large farm, there
ought to be cifterns for the wafh, butter
milk, whey, malt-grains, &c. conveniently
iituated, fo as to be emptied at once into the
troughs, and a pipe or gutter from the
dairy
( 53 )
dairy to it. In a large, or even a middling
farm, the hog is an animal of great confe-
quence, and proper places for keeping him
muft on no account be overlooked.
VI. The article of poultry is not one of
the moft confequence in a farm, but it is
of too much to be quite overlooked,
VII. That of a proper covering for all
the implements in general, both of draught
and tillage, is abfolutely requifite. There
is not a more wafteful ruinous circumftance,
than the fuffering waggons, carts, ploughs,
harrows, &c. &c. to He expofed to the
weather. The expence of wear and tear
will, under fuch management, run up 30
per cent, higher than with another man,
who is always careful to keep them under
cover, when not in ufe. For which reafon
tjie farmer in viewing the' offices of a new
farm, mould be fure to obferve whether
there is plenty of room for all his imple-
ments ; fmce the mifchief that will annu-
ally enfue to him, if there is not, is fome-.
what fufceptible of calculation, and he
fhould eftimate it accordingly.
VIII. But it is not fufRcient that thefe build-
iftgs mould be found upon every farm j they
E ihould
( 54 )
&ould likewife be fo placed as to form the
walls or inclofure of one or more farm-yards,
according to the fize of the farm. The
neglect of this point in fo many parts of
the kingdom is amazing. We fee many
farms that have no inclofed yards, and yet
many buildings fcattered about ; and, what
is amazing, the infatuation of landlords
building new ones without placing them
in the manner I mention.
In winter the cattle fhould always be
collected, and kept in the yard or yards,
to eat up the ftraw, hay, and fuch of the
turnips as the fheep leave. By this ma-
nagement the fields are not poached, the
young fpring grafs not eat up to the damage
of the enfuing crop, and the cattle kept warm
and dry all winter. Thefe are effects of
having convenient yards, and are of great
confequence.
I mall, in another place, give my ideas
of a complete fet of farm-yards ; therefore I
dp not, here, {ketch what a man would
erect upon his own eftate, but only fuch
parts as tenants mould expect upon every
farm, and without which they will be muc h
crampt and troubled in the practice of their
bufmefs.
ft
( 55 )
It is then necefiary always to have one
yard at leaft, upon every farm, anc} upon,
large farms two at leaft. They fhould he
enclofed either by buildings, high w^lls, or
clofe paling, that the cattle may be totally
fecure from wind. The mouth of a pond
fhould ever be in each yard, that the cattle
may help themfelves to water, and not de-
pend in any meafure upon the thought and
care of fervants.
Jt mould be well bottomed with ftone,
gravel, or chalk, and not with a fall or
defcent to the pond, but to the center ; an4
from thence not be allowed, in wet feafons,
to overflow the pond, but have a defcent
another way. The barns and other build-
ings fhould be fituated around the yards,
for the conveniency of giving the ftraw tc>
the cattle, and that the dung from the fta-
bles, or ox-houfes, cow-houfe, and hog-
fties may be turned into it, and thereby
mixed together. If there are any hay
houfes (which are not however neceflary)
cr a hay-ftack yard, it mould join one of
the farm-yards, that it may be ready for
feeding thofe cattle that are kept on it.
( 56 )
In proportion as tliefe circumftances are
found among the offices of a farm, the
more advantageous it will be. They are,
upon the whole, of very great importance ;
infomuch that a farm much wanting in
them can fcarcely be a beneficial one, how-
ever excellent all other circumftances are. I
may certainly be miftaken in this matter,
but I am clear that I would not hire the
otherwife beft farm in England, if deftitute
of thefe conveniencies, or very defective in
them : A farm indeed may be advantageous,
enough to induce the tenant to build, but
that is a circumftance not to be taken into
the prefent account.
Having offered thefe hints upon the
buildings neceflary, we muft next confider
them with an eye to their repairs. In
many countries this expence lies upon the
tenant (with that of the dwelling-houfe
alfo)j after they are put into repair by the
landlord. It is in this cafe highly requifite
that the new tenant views them with the
utmoft attention ; that he may be able to
form as exact an eftimate of the annual
expence as- the nature of the thing will
allow.
AH
( 57 )
All the timbers fhould be examined ; the
boarding, brick work, tiling, thatch,
plaftering, paving, &c. &c. &c. every
article viewed attentively; their duration
eftimated, and the expence of the probable
reparations reduced to calculation. If fuch
cautions are net taken, a man may find him-
felf in a few years in the midft of unex-
pected expences ; than which nothing can
be more fatal, unlefs he is (as indeed all
ought to be) much ftronger than his
farm.
It is very eafy to calculate the Amount of
the repairs during any given number of
years, then to divide it into an annual fum ;
and, laflly, to proportion it to fo much.
an acre rent. This is the practice that
ought in numerous inftances to be fol-
lowed.
CHAP. VII.
Of roads and paths through a farm.
AT firft fight this may appear a circmn-
ftance too trivial to be confidered ;
but that notion is a great miftake. I have
feen
fcen many farms fo interfered with thefe
nuifances, as to reduce the land abfolutely
one half in value. The inconveniences
prefent themfelves by thoufands.
The fields acrofs which roads lead are
carted up from fide to fide, though it be
only a farm or two that has a right of paf-
fing. The fellows, who drive their teams,
have no confideration for your fields ; they
feek nothing but the plainer!, fmootheft
track, and confequently do your land, every
time they go over it, frefh damage. If it
is pafture-ground, and the road not con-
fined to one track by fences, it can never
be mown ; but, whether it is proper or
not, muft always be fed. If it is arable
land, the mifchief is yet greater ; for the
corn is not only deftroyed as it grows, but
the foil fo cut up and poached in winter,
that it is a long time after they vary their
track before it will yield any profitable pro-
duce; confequently, a great breadth of land
is always in deftrudtion. I appeal to all
thofe who have the plague of unconfined
roads through their farms, whether I have
exaggerated any one particular. If fuch
$n one runs a mile through a farm, it in-
evitably
( 59 )
evitably deftroys, or greatly damages,
thirty acres of land.
All paths are likewife attended with nu-
merous evils; they often crofs corn and
grafs fields, in which cafe the corn and hay
are much trod- and fpoiled, on each fide
the path, for a confiderable diftance. This
mifchief never fails.
A path that leads through a turnip
field may be known by the peelings, fcat-
tered ones, &c. half a mile before you
comedo it.
The idle, wandering, and other people
that frequent thefe paths, are fure to flop
at every field in ploughing, or any where
that men are at work, to have a difh of dif-
courfe with the fervants, or labourers ; to
the no fmall detriment of the farmer, whofe
teams ftand ftill as long as the converfation
lafts.
Hedges are broke down, ftiles damaged,
and gates left perpetually open, from both
roads and paths, wherever they are found.
I know a farm of near 300 /. a year, in
jLffeXj with a common path through the
farm-yard. A more unfortunate circum-
ftance could fcarcely happen j it was the
rcfort
refort of half the thieves and pilferers in
the country, who made ufe of the oppor-
tunity of pajjing on their oivn bufmefs to
vifit the barns, wood yard, and poultry
houfe, to the certain decreafe of the corn,
wood, poultry and eggs. The liable-door
was always the fpot for a goffiping party.
A large farm, in a, rich country, can
fcarcely be found without the inconvenience
of one or two paths ; but if they happen
to be numerous, or a road or roads uncon-
fined through it, or a path through the
farm-yard, I would, on no account, hire
fuch an one, without a great and adequate,
deduction of rent. When a farm is viewed,
minutes fhould be made of all roads and
paths through it, and {hewn to the tenant
in a map of the farm ; and if they are nu-
merous, and crofs feveral fields, let him,
form an eftimate of the annual damage he
expects to enfue, and calculate his rent ac-
cordingly. If he, in hiring his farm,
flights this matter as of little importance >
he will affuredly repent it in a few years.
"' - '.'-' r ; -vrvv -:;.'
CHAP. VIII.
Of thejlate of the public roads^ and dijlance
from market.
THIS is another objed: too often over-
looked by farmers, and yet they are
the perfons who, moft of all others, fuffer
from bad roads and long carriage. It is
no matter of wonder that farmers are not
readily at the expence of mending roads
when bad, but it is very aftonifhing that
they will hire farms fituated in the midft of
execrable ones, when they might, with as
little trouble, fix themfelves in good ones.
The ill confequences of bad roads are
numerous, and of the worft kind; they
inevitably occafion a great extraordinary
annual expence, nay, a monthly one ; for
every time the waggons go out with corn,
wood, hay, ftraw, or to fetch manure of
any kind, the horfes are proportionably
weakened and jaded ; they mufl be fed ac-
cordingly ; the waggon and harnefs are for
ever coming in pieces, and constantly
wearing out. Thefe expences are regular,
and
and without intermiflion : But there is an-
other equally great, and that is, the lofs of
carrying afmall load of every commodity,
on account of bad roads, when a large one
would be carried, were the roads good.
This raifes the expences of every journey
prodigioufly ; but very flight calculations
will fhew this point in its true colours.
The diftance from the market to which
the corn is carried, is alfo a point of great
confequence : Perhaps the average diftance
over the whole kingdom does not exceed a
day's journey, in going and returning. I
believe the average diftance is not fo great ;
as in many counties the neareft market-
town is the place to carry to, as well as to
fell at. A day's work may be reckoned ten
miles, which is done with eafe. Now if a
farm in this refped: is above the average of
farms, the perfon who hires it mould con-
ficler the evil in the rent he offers.
In Suffolk and Effex, 25" miles are a com-
mon diftance ; and the roads none of the
beft. It is there two complete and hard
days work, to carry I o quarters of wheat,
or even barley, to market. The expence is
enormous.
t 63 )
enormous, as will appear from allight cal-
culation.
The ufe of 5 horfes, on
fuch an occafion, is undoubt-
edly to be reckoned at 2 /. 6 d. L s. d.
a horfe per day - - 150
The two men are allowed
for their expences - - 050
They carry with them a
meal of bread and cheefe,
and 2 or 3 quarts of ale;
call it - - - 020
Their time - - - 040
Wear and tear of the wag-
gon and harnefs ; this cannot
be reckoned at lefs than - 030
Sundry fmall expences - o I o
200
It is true, they fometimes gain back-
carriage of coals, for which 18 s. is paid;,
but then the wear and tear, and ufe of the
horfes, are greater, and confequently the
profit by them the lefs. But back-carriage
is, however, a mere uncertainty, and
therefore not to be taken into any account.
Here
( 64 )
Here we find the expence of carrying
out the corn amounts alone to 2 s. a quar-
ter, which js prodigious. Suppofe a far-
mer raifes 500 quarters in a year, the ex-
pence of the carriage runs up fo high as
50 /. full 30 L of which ought to be
reckoned as extraordinary, and charged to
the land with rent.
Some favings may be made, it is true,
by ufmg broad-wheeled waggons j for
which reafon, they fhould ever be ufed
on farms large enough for 9 or 10 horfes;
but then others not fo large will raife
greater quantities of corn than I have cal-
culated, and confequently cannot have thofe
machines for want of the proper number
of horfes.
Thefe hints, I apprehend, are fufficient
to prove that goodriels of roads, and a
moderate diftance from market, are cir-
cumftances highly ueceflary to be attended
to in the hiring a farm; and that, if they
arc wanting, the rent ought to be estimated
accordingly.
( 65 )
CHAP. I
Of the tythe.
THIS is fo considerable a point, that nd
man, in hiring a farm, is forgetful,
or inattentive of it, It is as much to be
confidered as the rent itfelf, being in fad:
a rent, and to be confidered as fuch. If a
farm is tythe-free, the following remarks
are confequently not applicable to it : fuch
farms are in that refpecl: excellent, and
cannot be too much valued. The land-
lord's rent, indeed, is always proportioned ;
but no matter, the certainty is the valuable
circumftance ; uncertainties are perni-
cious.
A farmer, at the fame time that he hires
his farm, fliould agree with the parfon for
his tythe, if it is the cuftom to compound ;
and by no means abfolutely agree with the
landlord, until he knows, or can nearly
guefs, what he is to expect from his eccle-
fiaftical landlord. If the latter refufes pre-
vioufly to agree with him, he mould then
become acquainted with the general man-
VOL. I. F near
( 66 )
ner of agreeing, and the terras in that
neighbourhood, and expect to be dealt
with as hardly as the hardeft. If this is
not his account, he is very imprudent in-
deed.
In many places, (indeed more perhaps
than compounded) the tythes are gather-
ed. All farmers know well enough
the oppreffive exorbitancy of this tax fo
collected, which is not fixed in proportioa.
to any given value, rent, product, &c.
but increafing regularly with his induftry
and improvements. A few words difcufles
this point. On no account hire a farm
where gathering the tythes is cuftomary,
or where there is any peculiar probability
of their being fo. This is a matter beyond
the power of calculation, which will in-
creafe upon you as long as you are induL
trious ; will lay violent* tho' legal hands
on the tenth, not of your rent, not of
your expences, but of the whole of your
produce, that is, of rent, labour, and ex-
pences of every kind. In a word, it is a
tax of 10 per cent, upon every milling of
your expences, of what kind and fort
foever.
fbever. Avoid fuch an oppreffion, as you
would a peftilence.
Some compofitions are almoft as bad as
the taking in kind': fuch are an annual
agreement for every field, made a littk be-
fore harveft. The parfon rides through
your farm, and holds forth to the follow-
ing purport.
" Farmer, this is an excellent crop !
A noble crop of wheat, 'indeed ! You
muft pay me 10 s. an acre for it. That
is not quite fo good ; I will accept 8 s. for
that. This barley is indifferent ; 5 s. an
acre will be about the mark. Ha ! a noble
crop of oats, truly ! well worth 6 j. an
acre. Thefe are bad ones ; I will be con-
tented with 2 s. 6 d. But there feems to
be a very fine field of beans ; aye, in-
deed, a very fine crop ! 7 s. muft be your
tythe for them *." Thus will your crops
be fcanned, and either without appeal, or
gathered.
Thus much, I think, is fufEcient to
prove how important an object tythe is,
and how much it behoves a man to gain a
* This is a common practice about Chelmsford in
Effex.
F 2 thorough
( 68 )
thorough knowledge of what he is in this
matter to expert, before he agrees with
the landlord.
CHAP. X.
Of town charges.
HES E comprehend rates of the poor,
* church, conftable, and furveyor ;
and the duty upon the highways. All
thefe public expences vary prodigioufly in
different parifhes ; and as they are to be
confidered exactly in the fame light as rent,
muft be known accurately before the agree-
ment with the landlord is concluded.
In fome places, particularly in towns,
the poor-rates alone are fo high as 8 s. in
the pound rent. Whatever they amount
to, the fum for feveral years back mould be
known, and the average of it expected in
future ; unlefs fome peculiar circumftances
give a reafon to look for variations.
The fame attention is requifite to the
other rates; and the ftate of the roads,
refpe&ing the days of ftatute duty, exa-
mined.
*.. if
If a farmer is neglectful in thefe matters,
or takes them too much upon truft, lie
may eafily be furprized with expences
which he did not expect ; and I have often
remarked, that, in many cafes, this is very
pernicious. Nothing can be more fatal
than the viewing thefe feveral charges in
different and feparate lights, and not draw-
ing them with the rent into one fum, that
the total may be certainly known. There
is no difficulty in procuring good intelli-
gence of thefe points ; they are of fo pub-
lick a nature, that a very little trouble will
gain a complete knowledge of them. In
many parts of the kingdom, they will,
united, exceed the rent : how careful there-
fore fhould a farmer be, to be well informed
in each article ; that, when he has con-
cluded the view of a farm, and the enquiries
concerning it, he may fit down and calcu-
late what will be the amount of his annual
payments ? If he does not this, he will,
at beft, be in the dark.
It furely is needlefs to add, refpedting
thefe charges, that he mould not forget the
probability of being raifcd^ that is, of pay-
ing more than the preceding tenant. It is
F 3 no
( 70 )
no more than prudent, in general, to expefc
to pay the real value...
CHAP. XI.
Of the price of labour.
I SUP POSE, throughout thefe fheets, that
my farmer defigns to cultivate his land
in a 'clean, neat, and fpirited manner, to
make the moft of his ground : If fuch is
his intention, he will find labour his
greateft expence, and much exceeding the
rent. It is therefore evidently of great
confequence, whether the price of this ne-
cefTary is dear or cheap ; that is, higher
or lower than what is common, or, per-
haps, than what he has been ufed to. The
variations of the prices of labour, in
different parts of the kingdom, are fo great,
that a man may find his expences in one
farm run 20 per cent, higher than in ano-
ther, though the acres be the fame, and
every other circamftance of foil and marr
nagement. It is therefore of very great
importance to him, to know well the price s
of
of the country in which he purpofes to
fettle.
But an account of this may very eafily
be taken, in a deceiving manner: The
pay per day, of the different feafons, muft
not only be taken, but alfo the price of
fuch work, as is ufually done by the piece.
A country may be very dear in day-work,
but moderate in that done by the piece;
the average, or balance, muft in this cafe
be taken, which, though not to be done
with minute accuracy, yet an idea tolerably
clear may be gained of the truth, which
is infinitely better than leaving it in the
dark, and to chance.
Suppofe the average earnings of a
labourer is found to be I s. 2 d. a-day, the
year round, piece-work included, upon any
given farm, which being left by a man
who moves to another, he takes a frem
account of labour, and finds the fame ave-
rage I s. $ d. a-day. We will fuppofe
him to employ ten labourers, the difference
of this 3 d. a-day will then amount to 45 /
a year, which is certainly no trifle; and
fhews that a farmer fhould be very atten-
tive to this point, that he may be enabled,
F 4 where
where labour is cheap, to overlook the
more unprofitable circumftances, in a farm
beneficial upon the whole ; and where it is
dear, that he may not lofe fight of fo ma-
terial an expence among others, and deter-?
mine, therefore, to reject a bargain which
may be fo additionally unprofitable. Too
much cannot be faid on this point, for no
object is more important : but the evident
confequence of it will, it is apprehended,
plead ftronger with thofe who are upon
taking new farms, than any thing more
I can add. Let me, however, remark that
the price of labour may very eafily make
it better worth a farmer's while to give
15 s. an acre, in one place, for land, than
12 s. in another, fuppofing the utmoft
fimilarity.
CHAP. XII.
Cffome other circumjlances 'which a farmer
foould attend to in hiring a farm.
'TT'HERE are a few other points which
Jl deferve mention, but which may be
thought
( 73 )
thought by fome too unimportant to be
treated of in ^chapters by themfelves.
I. The number of acres in a farm is a
very material 1 point; I mean, whether the
fpecified number be conjectured or aflured.
In fome leafes, in the recital of the acres,
it is common to add more or lefs ; in others,
the number is aflured, and the rent ftated
per acre. The latter is much the faireft,
and moft fatisfactory way ; for, in a long
courfe of years, with the variations of fur-
veys, the changes of lands, and the alte-
rations of fields, miflakes very often creep
into furveys ; and, upon trial, it has been
found there has been a much lefs quantity
of land than mentioned in the leafe. For
this reafon, it is but prudent in the farmer
to view the fields attentively, and to mea-
fure thofe which appear to the eye to be the
imalleft meafure; that is if the landlord
infifts upon the farm being let for fuch a
number of acres, more or I fs.
II. When a farm is fituated contiguous,
or near to the manfion-houfe of the land-
lord, it is not an uncuftomary covenant, for
the tenant to engage to do a given quantity
of carting for the landlord every year.
There
( 74 )
There is nothing to be impeached in fuch an
agreement, but it ought to be carried, like
all the reft, to account, and valued as fo
much rent; and this remark is applicable
to all other kinds of covenants, which con-
tain an agreement to pay or perform any
fum of money or fervice.
III. Some landlords will not grant leafes
at all ; others for only 3 or 7 years : This
is a matter of fmall confequence to thofe
tenants who purpofe conducting their farm
In a flovenly negligent manner, never to
expend any thing beyond abfolute necef-
iities, and always to get from the land the
utmoll. To Jitch, thefe maxims are very
indifferent; for let them leave the farm
when they will, they can lofe nothing by
former expences, the land never owing
them any thing ; but the cafe is furely
different with a man who defigns to expend
confiderable fums of money in bringing the
land into perfect order ; a three, or a feven
years leafe, is to him much the fame as
none at all ; and he would be an egregious
fool, to difpofe of his money upon any fuch
uncertainties. If a man really means to be
a good farmer, it can never anfwer to him
to
( 7S )
to enter a farm with a fhorter than twenty-
one years leafe ; nor can it ever be for the
advantage of the' landlord to let his farms
on fhorter. I am now fpeaking of rich
countries : As to poor ones, to be inclofed,
or marled, or chalked, &c. <&c. it is at
once apparent that no man will hire them
without a long leafe.
But it may be faid, that farms are often
very well managed by men that have no
leales. This I readily grant ; but then they
have, probably, been bred up on their
farms ; they, as well as their family, may
know their landlord ; and feveral gene-
rations pafs without a leafe, and yet no-
thing unreafonable happen. But this is a
peculiar cafe ; I am fuppofmg a landlord
and tenant, that are ftrangers, coining
together ; in which cafe, caution is at leaft
requifite. Befides, we often fee whole fets
of old tenants trimmed up at once in their
rents, not unreafonably indeed ; but fuffi-
ciently to (hew, that the fanner with a
leafe in his pocket is in a much more fecure
fituation than another who has none.
IV. A farmer mould be attentive, when
he hires his farm, that he engages to leave
it
it as he found it in every circumftance;
that is, to go out without the new tenant's
having more advantage of him, than he
himfelf has of the tenant he fucceeds; this
principally concerns the payment for tillage,
carting, &c. &c.
V. It is ufual, in all rich countries, for
the farm to find the farmer in firing; if
it does not, the deficiency mould be noted-
CHAP. XIII.
Of the method of reducing the fubjects of
the preceding chapters to a regular ac~
count.
HAVING thus gone through the prin-
cipal objects of the farmer's atten-
tion, in hiring a new farm; it is neceflary,
in the next place, to ftate the method that
mould be followed in forming eftimates of
the amount of each article, in fuch a man-
ner, that the obfervations made may be
reduced to oneconcife and clear view, from
which may, at once, be deduced the point,
whether any farm be advantageous, or the
contrary.
In
( 77 )
In doing this, the moft compendious,,
and indeed the fureft rule (as it is founded
on particular experience) is to fix upon a
criterion, by which, analogically, to judge
of firailar matters. For inftance, a farmer
may fix upon his laft farm, or any other*
of which he has a thorough knowledge, by
way of a comparifon, to examine new ones.
This will be exemplified in the following
{ketches. It will be neceiTary here to
afiume the language of a farmer, and fup-
pofe myfelf in the jTituation of having
viewed a farm, and^ deliberating upon the
rent it is worth.
gi * * i :fDiii *. 7 * *
MEMORANDUM.
I calculate the rent <>f my old farm at X.
Y* as follows. /. s. d.
Rent, ^iiillDv; 300 o o
Tythe, r-'- -- ?-'-'iA 50 o o
Poor rates, -^ i^^^ ti<Lii go $ ^
Church ditto, aiiipi bnx 2 :r. o - o
Gonftable's ditto, -" - i 10 o
Surveyors ditto, - - 7^ 10 o
Value of my ftatute work, - 660
Carry over, 397 6 o
( 78 )
Brought over, .397 6 o
Window tax, - 2100
Repairs of the houfe and
offices, - 4 ii o
Three days carting for my
landlord, - - - 200
Four loads of ftraw for
ditto, - - - 2 10 o
Total rent, . 408 17 o
As there were no other covenants or cir-
cumftances of extraordinary expence at-
tending the farm, this is the whole of the
rent ; and as I had 400 acres of land, it i s
not quite i /. 6 d. per acre, upon an aver-
age, all round ; which rent I divide as
follows, according to the foil :
45 Acres of fine dry crumbly /. s. d.
clay land, at 26 s. - 58 10 o
30 Of a ftiff wet baking
clay, at IQJV - 15 o o
2O Of a reddifh brick earth
loam, flat and rather
wet, at 8 s. - - 8 o o
Carryover, 81 10 o
( 79 )
95 Brought over, . 81 10 o
60 Acres of a light found
gravelly loam, at 20 /, - 60 O o
40 Of a cold wet fpringy
gravel, ati2>r. - 24 O o
35 Of a fine rich black
fand, at 20 s. 35 o o
20 Of a dry loofe fand at
S*> " ~ " 500
50 Of a light, dry found
rich loam, a.t$os. - 75 o o
50 Acresof meadow ground,
fubjecT: to be overflowed
in hay time, at 20 /. - 50. o o
20 Ditto not fubjed to that
evil, and the herbage re-
markably fine, at 40 s. - 40 o o
12 Acres of dry found rich
uplandgrafs, at 30 1. -'Hi.,., r 18 o o
6 Ditto of ditto, but richer
and a better herbage,
at4OJ. - ,*lJon*i? 12 o o
1 2 Rough grafs, at 14^. t&>( 880
400 * Total, 408 1 8 o
* I am fenfibie I have here fketched many forts of land
for cHffarm, but this was neceflary for the explanation of
the idea. However, I have feen farms of 400 acres with
as great variety, though pot of the fame kind as thefe.
( 8o )
Thefe prices are points of comparifon,
by which I am to judge of the farm now
before me. It confifts of the following
acres of different foils, which I value as
under.
N i.
30 Acres of rich, found /. s. d.
crumbly clay ; it has
been hollow-drained,
and, I think, is as good
as that which I occu-
pied in my laft farm ;
rent, therefore, 26 s. - 39 o o
N2.
17 Acres of fuch clay as
N^ i. but, for want of
draining, the water ap-
pears much, nor is there
fo good a fall to carry
it off. It is not fo good
as the other by 6 s. an
acre : fay, therefore, at
20 J. - - - 17 o o
47 Carry over, 56 o o
( 8r )
47 Brought over, /. 56 o o
N 3 .
12 Acres of dry found red
loam, has a good fall,
and from it's not ad-
hering to my feet in
walking over it (it being
winter), I judge it to
be kindly land, and
Wor,th as much as my
60 acres of gravelly
loam, in my laft farm^
or 20 s. - - 12 6 6
i j* Acres of very flat wet
fpewy clay, worfe I
think can fcarce be met
with, one acre of N 3
Worth 4 of it ; the
rent 5 s. - "*** 3 Y $ -
J y ->
74 Carry over, L 7 f 15 o
Vot< I. G N 5.
74 Brought over, /. 71 15 o
NO 5.
20 Acres of a flat, cold,
loofe, woodcock, brick
earth loam, very wet
and poor. The 20 acres
of reddifh brick earth
in my laft farm better,
I reckon, by i s. an
acre ; therefore 7 s. - 700
10 Acres of light gravel
has not fo much of the
loam in it as the 60
acres in my laft farm:
It will certainly burn
in a dry fummer. It is
worth, on comparifon
with them, 15 s. - 7100
N 7 .
50 Acres of a cold, fpringy
gravel, wetter I think
than the 40 in the other
farm; not worth fo
much by 3 s. an acre ;
: ' therefore at o s. - 22 10 o
154 Carryover, /. 108 15
154 Brought over, /. 108 15 o
N 8.
ao Acres of ditto, but wet
only at places, to the
amount of about 5 acres,
the reft better land, but
will burn : I value it at
1 1 s* - 1 1 Q
N 9,
t o Acres of a dry blowing
fand, not fo good as
the 20 I had before ;
fay, 4 s. + $> o 6
N 10.
2 $ Acres of a black fandy
loam; I take it to be
5 j. an acre better than
the 35 in the other
farm ; at 25 s. ***"' f x'- 3150
Nir.
20 Acres of a light, dry,
found, rich loam ; much
229 Carry over, /. 153 Q o
G 2 fuch
( 84 )
229 Brought over, /. 153 o o
fuch land as the 50 in
the firft farm, but one
part rather gravelly;
however, as another is
hlacker and more crum-
bly, but at the fame
time moift, I reckon it,
upon a par, 30 s. 3000
N 12.
70 Acres of meadow land,
low, but not fubjec~t to
be overflowed ; the her-
bage exceedingly good :
I think it better grafs
than any I had before,
and worth 45 s. - 157 10 o
20 Acres of ditto, but fo
very low that it will
fcarce ever efcape being
overflowed even in fum-
mer; I value it at 18 s.
the herbage is not good. - 1 8
319. Carryover, 1-35$
319 Brought over, /. 358 10
N 14.
I o Acres of dry found up-
land grafs, on loam.
It is rather better than
the 12 in the other
farm; at 32 j. - 160
150 Acres of very wild
rough grafs, many parts
of it on a burning gra-
velly foil; others on a
loofe wet loam, and ne-
ver drained: The whole
over-run with mole and
ant-hills, bumes, briers,
and fome whins ; if al-
lowed to plough it, it
is worth i o s. an acre. - 75 o o
N Q 1 6.
2 1 Acres of white chalky
arable; very wet and
500 Carryover, /. 449 10 o
G 3 adhe-
500 Brought over, /. 449 IQ o
adhefive : I have no
experience in this land,
but judge, from the
view of it and what I
can learn from enqui-
ries, that it is not worth
above j's. an acre. - 7 7 o.
500 /. 456 17 o
So much for the farmer's private valua-
tion of the land, which is drawn up on a
,fuppofition that all other circumftances are
upon an average with farms in general ;
thefe are next to be viewed, to difcover
whether they are above or below fuch
average, that in either cafe the excefs may
be charged.
The fences are various, in general
live hedges and ditches; and though I
remark many gaps and fliards in them, yet
fuch muft be expected in all farms newly
hired: but the 150 acres of rough ground
having been once a park, is inclofed only
with an old pale, much of it in that degree
pf repair which renders it tenantable, but
will never fupport it through the leafe : I
mall
fhall confequently be engaged in a great ex-
pence (as I am to keep them in repair)
before the expiration of it. It is a matter
of difficult calculation, but the neareft
eftimate I can make, on an exact view and
meafuremenfi is that thefe 150 acres will
coft me, in 2 1 years, in repairs of paling,
the fum of /. 70 o o
If the fence was a hedge
and ditch like the reft of the
farm it would coft me, befides
the amount of wood gained - 20 o o
Excefs of the paling, '& 50 o o
which, in 21 years, is per
annum, - **np:> _ 2 ^ ^
The i o acres' of upland
pafture, and feveral of the
arable fields, which mufl be
under clover fome years, and
fed, have no water for cattle :
I muft fink 3 ponds at leaft :
the fluff that comes out
may pay; but as I fufpecl:
one field being all gravel,
I think it cannot pay: I
Carry over, /. 2 7 7
G 4 therefore
( sfr..'):
Brought over, /. 2 7 7
therefore reckon the expence
of one pond, which will coft
me I o /. at leaft, or per an-
num, for 2 1 years, - 9 6
There is a road through
one field of 50 acres, which,
being, unconfined, I muft
either fubmit to great an T
nual lofs or fence it in ; this
will coft me 1 8 /. or per an-
num, - - - o 17 i
Five fpot paths run thro*
the farm for a confiderable
reay, I would have com-
pounded for two, mail there-
fore charge three : they will
inevitably do me 30 /. da-
mage in one way or other ;
or per annum, - I 8 6
The buildings are moft of
them good, and pretty well
contrived, but they form
with pales only one farm-
Carry over, /. 5 2 8
yard,
( 8? V
Brought over, 7, 5 2, 8
yard, whereas two are in-*
difpenfably neceflary to fuch
a farm ; I cannot make an-
other out with fuch an high
pale as is neceflary under
15 /. or per annum, - - o 14 3
lunderftand that the land-
lord will make no additions ;
but there muft be a new
chaff-houfe built, which will
coft me 1 2 /. or per annum, -
The intereft of thefe fums
muft be reckoned, as I mail
expend them directly ; they
amount to 105 /. fay 100 /.
at 4 per cent. - - 400
.10 84
Next, I muft examine fuch circumftances,
in favour of the farm, as are fufceptible of
calculation.
In the firft place, the 500
acres are perfectly contigu-
ous, even circularly fo; I
know fcarce any farm of this
fize, that lies fo well ; had
I 500
(.90 )
I 500 acres in the common, /. s. d.
or average degree of con-
tiguity, I would give 50 were
they laid together as thefe
are ; I fhall therefore charge
it at 50 /. or per annum^ 277
The roads , to market
(which is diftant only 6 miles)
are fo extremely good, being
turnpike, that I can in any
manner carry a fourth more
corn at a time, than in com-
mon roads; there are 400
acres of arable, fuppofe 1 60
of wheat and barley every
year, and 4 quarters per acre
on an average, I fhall then
have 640 qrs. to carry to
market; as I fhall have a
broad -wheeled waggon, I
muft calculate accordingly.
In my laft farm I carried
30 facks on an average 10
miles, which coil me 9 d.
a fack, or I s. 6 d. a quarter.
Carry over, 277
I can
( 9' )
Brought over, /. 2 7 7
I can here carry 40 facks,
or 20 qrs. at I s. a quarter,
there is to be charged there-
fore in favour of this farm
6d. a quarter on all corn
carried to market, or - 1600
Upon viewing the offices
attentively, I think them
much beyond the common
ones, and will fave me much
labour in carrying the food
of cattle backwards and for-
wards, and alfo enable me
to make a much larger quan-
tity of dung than in moft
yards. I value thefe circum-
ftances at per annum, - 800
Total, - 2.6 7 7
Ditto the unfavourable
articles, - - - 1084
In favour of the farm, - . 15 19 3
The farmer having proceeded thus far
in his calculations, comes next to rent of
various kinds : on this head the landlord
mufl
( 92 )
muft be the laft perfon he treats abfolutely
with. He goes firft to the parfon, and
enquires his terms of agreement, in cafe
he hires the farm : he is anfwered that no
agreement of that fort will be made, nor
until he has hired it. Alarmed at this
anfwer, he next enquires into the proba-
bility of the tythe being taken in kind;
he finds nothing but compofitions around
him, and no peculiar reafon for his being
gathered any more than the reft: the
average of the compofitions he difcovers to
be 4-f. an acre all round. This fum he
therefore writes down as his own tythe,
or r - - - /. 100 o o
Poor rates his predeceflbr
paid to the amount of 60 7.
a year, and as he finds no
probability of his paying
more, he writes that fum, - 60 o o
Conftable's ditto, ti:r 3
Church ditto, 400
Surveyor's ditto, - jo o o
Value of the ftatute work, - 700
Window tax, - - - 300
Carry over, . 1 87 o o
( 93 )
Brought over, .187 o 6
The repairs of the houfe
and offices are calculated at - 900
Deduct from thefe articles 196 o o
the amount of the balance
of the former account in fa-
vour of the farm, - - 15 1 9 3
Total rent hitherto brought
to account, - - 1 80
His valuation of the land -
amounted to, 456 17 o
Deduct the above fum, - 180 o 9
.276 16 3
PoflefTed of this remainder, he is ready
(and not till then) for the landlord. As
this is precifely the fum he can afford to
pay in landlord's rent, he knows the ut-
moft to offer ; and if he gets it cheaper,
the value of his bargain and if dearer,
the amount of the excefs ; fo that he is
abfolutely prepared, in point of all pre-
vious knowledge, to treat to advantage.
If any covenants are demanded of an
annual payment of ftraw, of carting,
or
( 94 )
or in any other form, they muft be added
to the rent cafh, and the total confidered as
rent. Let us, for the fake of the conclu-
fions, fuppofe the landlord's total demand
to come within the fum defigned to be
agreed to ; and with that demand fome
covenants in the leafe fpeeified that were
not expected. For inftance, the tenant not
to break up any grafs land, not even the
150 acres of rough ground. Clover not
to be confidered as a fallow, in the crop-
ping the fields, &c. <&c.
Thefe, or any other covenants of the
kind, muft then be valued. The 150 acres
to plough were valued at 10 s. but to re-
main in grafs they are worth but 5 j. the
deduction therefore, - - 3210 o
There are 150 acres (fup-
pofe) the farmer will find it
moft profitable to cultivate
with clover as a fallow : if
it is ftruck out, he mull fub-
mit to much higher expences
of all forts that relate to
Carry over, -32 10 o
tillage,
( 9S )
Brought over, . 32 10 o
tillage, and at the fame time
not get better, or perhaps fo
good crops; this circum-
flance leflens the value 3 s.
an acre, -, t-^i, - 22 10 o
55 o o
Rent before agreed to, ,- 276 1 6 3
Now to be deducted, - 55 o o
.221 16 3
The remainder is what he is now to
offer the landlord, in cafe the obnoxious
covenants are infifted on.
I have, in this manner, gone through
the method of reducing every article to an
eftimate ; and I cannot but apprehend die
certainty attending fuch a method muft re-
commend it infinitely more than hiring a
farm upon a fuperficial view, and without
any other eftimates than mere fleeting ideas.
A man mould not only act prudently, but
know wherein he does it, and to what
degree.
Let me, however, warn the perfon who
is about to form fuch a calculation as the
preceding, to give the value of the land he
views fair play, and not, through avarice,
eftimate
( 96 )
eftimate it below the real value: if he get*
the farm below the amount he rates it at*
fo much the better; he will then have the
fatisfadion of knowing to what amount he
has the better of the bargain : If he doesi
not form fo exact an eftimate as to be deter-
mined not to exceed it one milling, he
leaves the treaty with his landlord to the
common haggling way of making bargains,
and will be loft in confufion, having no
abfolute point to which he may advance, and
no further.
This regular method of arranging his
ideas, of reducing every thing to calculation
and certainty, will alfo give a man great
advantages when a farm is to be hired at a
mort warning, with fcarce any time for
confideration. In that cafe, a man who
takes no fuch guide rejects the bargain for
want of time to reflect, to confult his
friends, and to make an hundred trivial
enquiries of r what fort of crops the laji
tenant gained ? and other fuch trivial matters.
But he who has made a regular eftimate of
every article, can treat and conclude in five 1
minutes as well as five months; and con-
fequentiy will have, in every cafe, the
greateft
( 97 )
greateft probability of never lofmg a bene-*
ficial bargain.
CHAP. xiv.
Remarks on the condufl of common farmer s+
in proportioning their land to their money*
IT is neceflary to introduce the following
calculations, by a few obfervations on
the method generally followed by common
farmers, of judging from their fortunes of
the quantity of land they are enabled to
hire. In the eftimates which I mall give,
there will be found many Variations from
the common conduct ; I mould, therefore,
give my reafbns for fuch variations.
It is univerfally known in every part of
the kingdom, that farms are every day hired
with much fmaller iums of money than the
moft confiderate people would allot for
the purpofe. It is not gentlemen and land-
lords alone who think fuch fums too fmall ;
even farmers themfelves will often own,
that a larger fum of money is really neceflary,
than often poflefled Upon the hiring of a
farm ; and they will allow that it would be
VOL. L H more
more advantageous to cultivate 200 acres
completely, than 300 indifferently, for want
of plenty of money : And the practice of the
moft enlightened ones prove the fame thing
as the fentiments of the reft, however con-
trary to their conduct; for we very often
fee very large fums applied to the culture
of farms, and fuch as render a fpirited
practice neceflary to pay the intereft off.
The caufe of fuch numerous deviations as
we find from prudence, in this cafe, is the
avarice of hiring a large quantity of land ;
their great ambition is not to farm welly
but much. Nine out of ten had rather
cultivate 500 acres in a flovenly manner^
though conftantly cramped for money, than
250 acres completely, though they would
always have money in their pockets^ And
numerous are the inftances in which they
would be richer at the end of a leafe of 200
acres, than of 400. But from whatever
fource this error is derived, the fact, that it
is an error, is indifputable.
Farms are fometimes hired with fuch
fmall fums, that many believe it to be
almoft impollible to carry them on : and
yet the farmers of fuch do manage to go
on
( 99 )
on after a manner to the end of the leafe.
Some explanation of this condud is ne^
ceflary.
Let us fuppofe a man to hire a farm of
200 /. a year, containing as many acres, 40
of them grafs, and 1 60 arable : For how
fmall a fum of money may a farmer hire
fuch an oae ? Answer , for 422 /. In
this manner :
Implements.
Thefe are all bought in fecond hand at
low prices; /. s. d.
2 Waggons, - - - 15 o o
2 Carts, - - 1100
4 Ploughs, 250
2 Pair of harrows, ^ - i I o o
i Roller, - - o 10 o
Screen, bufliel, forks, rakes,
fhovels, &c. &c. - - 2 10 o
20 Sacks, - - I 5* o
Harnefs for S horfes, cart
and plough, - - - 4100
Dairy furniture, &$x ~ 2 10 o
Houfehold ditto, - Q>/r 30 o o
Carry over, .7 o o
H 2 Live
Brought over, JT. 71 o o
Live Stock.
8 Horfes, - - -4$ o o
5* Cows, - - - 30 o o
50 Sheep (old crones) 17 i o o
Swine, --- - iioo
-, 94 o o
Seed.
40 Acres of wheat, ".24 o o
40 Of barley, - - 20 o o
10 Of oats and clover, 7 o o
* 51 o o
Labour.
Three fervants (wages
half a year) which, with
himfelf or afon, makes
one to each plough, . i o o o
A labourer in harveft, 200
A maid's wages (if he
has not a daughter
grown up), - - - i 10 o
13 10 o
Sundry articles.
I ftippofe him to en-
ter the farm at Michael-
Carry over, . 229 10 a
mas.
/. s. d.
Brought over, 229 10 o
mas. His cows he will
not buy till the winter
is over: his horfes he
turns into a ftraw yard,
(his own, if he has
agreed with his prede-
ceflbr for the ftraw of
the laft crop) but where-
ever it may be, at i s.
a week per horfe, 5
months, - - - .800
Corn and hay in
fpringfowing2 months,
at 3 s. a week per horfe, 9120
Houfe-keeping a year,
(befides what the farm
yields) that L>, fat hogs
and wheat, - - 40 o o
Half a year's rates,
&c. at 3 s. 6 d. in the
pound, -P T. - - 17100
Cloaths and pocket-
money, - - - - io o o
85 2 o
314 12 o
H 3 Thus
( 102 )
1fhns we find that 314 /. 12 s. is
fary to carry him through the firft half
year, and, in fome articles, the \vhcle
year; confequently fo much mult at firft
be in hand; the further furn neceffary will
beft appear from ftating his expences in
half-year accounts.
Second half-year.
To half * year's /. s. By producl of 5 /. s.
wages, - 13 10 Cows, - 30 O
Ditto rates, - 1710 Ditto of Sheep,
Blackfmith and the money dou-
vvheel-wright, a bled, - - - 35 o
year, 12 o Balance - 81 O
Half a year's rent, IOO o
Window lights, 3 Q
.146 o . 146 o
By this account we find a deficiency of
8 1 /. which muft likewife be fupplied by
cafti for flock at firft.
Third half-year.
Wages, - - . 13 10 By 40 acres of
Rates, - - - 17,10 whear, at4/. ^. 160 c
Tythe, at 3 s. in By 40 of barley
the pound, - 30 o r.t 3 /. - - I2O o
Blackfmith and 20 Acres turnips
wheel- vvright, 10 d fcld, - 35
Rent, - - - 100 o
Rights, -.30
Carryover, /. 174 o Carryover, .315 o
Brought over, . 174 o Brought over, . 315 o
Seed wheat, 40
acres, 24 o
Ditto 40 of barley, 20 o
Clover with it, 3 O
Ditto 20 acres of
beans, - 12 o
20 Of oats, - 10 o
80 Sheep, - - 28 o
Sundry fmall ar-
ticles, 10 o
281 o
Balance, 34 o
-3 T 5 o . 315 o
This half-year nothing is reckoned for
houfe-keeping : A farmer, when once his
land begins to produce, lives off his farm;
I mean fuch an one as takes a farm as large
as pomble ; the fwine furnifh him with
meat; the fcreenings of his wheat with
bread, and poultry and other fmall arti-
cles with malt, and the few things he
wants befides.
Fourth half-year,
Rent, - . 100 By cows, - < 30 o
Wages and La- Sheep, - - - 56 O
bour, - - - 15 o Balance of laft
Rates, - 17 i'o half-year, - 34 o
Wear and Tear, 14 o Balance, 26 10
> 146 10
In
In this half-year we find another defi-
ciency of 26 /. 10 s. which, Ife the former,
muft be carried to the firft account of
flock,
Fifth half-year.
Rent, . 100 o By 40 acres of
Labour, - - 15 o wheat, - . 160 O
Rates, - - - 17 jo 40 Of barley, - 120 o
Wear and tear, - 15 o 20 Of beans, - 50 o
Lights, - - - 3010 Of clover, hay
Tythe, 30 o and feed, - 30 o
Seed for 50 acres Balance, 129 10
of wheat, 25 o
30 Barley, --150
20 Oats, - 10 Q
.230 10 .230 10
Sixth half -year.
Rent, - - L- 10 % Cows - ; 30 Q
Labour, - 20 o Sheep this year
Rates, - - - 1710 for ftock to in-
Wear and tear, - 20 o creafe,
Balance, 2 o Balance of laft
half year, - 129 10
J 59 i J 59 10
V/e are now come to the point, when it
appears that our farmer may get up the
frill with luck, but yet he continues in fuch
a fituation, that any unforefeen accident,
or failure of crop, will fit very heavy on
him. His general yearly account will now
ftand as under;
Expences. Product.
Rent, ~
200
o
Wheat,
-
-
160
Tythe, - -
3
o
Barley,
-
-
120
Wages and la-
Beans,
- -
50
bour,
4
p
10 Acres
of
clo-
Rates, - - -
35
o
ver, or
turnips,
2O
Wear and tear, -
35
Sheep, -
-
-
100
Lights,
3
10 Cows
* ' '
(in-
Seed for 40 acres
creafed
to
this
of wheat,
20
number) - -
60
40 Barley, - -
20
o
40 Oats and beans,
20
Sheep, - - '-
Tlslanrp
50
r n
o
n
\.
('- ~
L- 5 10 o . 510 o
The balance of 57 /. is, for all his private
expences, his profit,the intereftof his money,
and the chance of accidents, very inade-
quate to thefe demands ; but, in a term of
years, will increafe, from the expenditure
of itfelf in part on the farm, and from the
gradual increafe of ftock by breeding, as
he has, befides the article of fheep charged,
56 /. worth for breeding, either in kind or
cafh. Now if we go over thefe accounts,
the fums wherewith the farm was flocked
will appear to be as follows :
The
( 106 }
The firft cxpence, . 314 12 o
The firft wrong balance, - 8100
The fecond ditto, - - 26 i o o
Total, . 422 2 o
Which is little more than two rents.
This {ketch, in which a minute accuracy
was not neceffary, -will ferve to mew the
management whereby- farmers fometimes,
with very fmall fvims : ,of money, get into
large farms ; and it proves, at the fame
time, (notwithstanding the poffibility of
fucceeding in fuch attempts), that the ma-
naging^ in this manner is very hazardous
to the- farmer, and pernicious to the farm.
If a bad year comes, or. any accidents
happen to his ftock, he is ruined : With
good years he can afford to do nothing in
the way of improvement ; and he is fa
weak in cattle and labour, that, in a few
years, his fields muft inevitably be out of
order for want of requifite tillage ; and
better horfes muft be bought, and more
men employed, or all will go to ruin.
His implements bought in with an eye to
cheapnefs alone, will foon be done with,
and
107
and frefh fupplies demanded. All expences
will multiply.
In fuch a ftate, how is it poffible lie
mould turn his land to the beft advantage ?
A vein of the fineft marie may be under
his fields ; he can have nothing to fay to
it. He may be within 3 or 4 miles of a
town, where dung and afhes are to be had
on very reafonable terms ; but how is he
to afford the purchafe. Nothing can
be clearer than the infinite difadvantages
of fuch a confined fituation.
It would be abfurd to take any trouble
to point out how farms fhould be flocked
that are hired on thefe principles ; fuch a
defign would be even pernicious; the
reader muft not, therefore, expeft in the
ehfuing calculations that I aim the leaft at
enabling him to play the floven. I {hall
fuppofe him defirous of laying out his for-
tune in agriculture to the beft advantage ;
which certainly muft be upon the principles
of good, not bad hufbandry.
The inftance I have given above, is a
remarkable one; it muft not be fuppofed
that a great many farms of 200 /. a year, are
{locked with little more than 400 /. but in-
ftances
H
fiances of >very bad management in this
refped: are abundant, though not To exe-
crable as this. In general, moft far-
mers will be found very faulty, and par-
taking more or lefs of this fpirit of avarice.
When a man is in fearch of a farm, he
mould be defirous alone of employing his
money to the beft advantage: What is it
to him, whether on aco acres or 2000;
that quantity of land which to his fum of
money is moft profitable, is the quantity to
be defired ?
One point cannot be attended to too
much, which is, that the farmer be clear in
the fum hepofifeffes, and not, on any account,
in doubt, or depending for any on accidents.
It is common for farmers to be deiirous,
when they change their farms, of moving
into one in the neighbourhood ; that they
may not be at the lofs of felling their old
flock, and buying frelh ; but this is a moft
pernicious circumftance, and leads numbers
to their ruin.
When a fanner acts on this plan, (I am
here fuppofmg him not to be a rich man,
but in moderate circumftances, and depend-
ant every year, fomewhat on the laft), he,
in common with others, aims at as large a
farm
farm as he can grafp; but the peculiar
mifchief here is, he reckons his acres of
corn upon the ground, and the general
produce of his farm the laft year, as fo
much money (by calculation) towards flock-
ing the new one, which he moves into
directly: Now, upon entering into any
trade or bufmefs whatever, the great point
is to know to a milling the amount of a
man's fortune, to reckon at fo critical a
moment nothing upon contingencies, but
have the fatisfaction, as well as necefTary
accuracy, in knowing exactly the amount
of his dependences.
If he moves directly out of one farm into
another, this cannot be the cafe; for it
muft be hired fome time before he leaves
his old one ; or, in other words, while his
laft year's crop is on the ground. Now I
would earneftly advife all in fuch actuation,
not even to look at a new farm, till the
whole product of their old one is converted
into money. He then knows exactly what
he has to depend upon, and can form a
much more accurate judgment of the quan-
tity of land proper for him to hire, than
6 while
while he reckons his crops as money, be-
fore they are reaped.
Corn is fometimes very deceitful ; a
man, in eftimating the product, may eafily
be miftaken greatly : A very bad harveft,
a blight, a mildew, an hundred things,
may leflen the value greatly, and markets
fink unexpectedly. He finds his product
much lefs than he valued it ; but his new
farm is hired, and he cannot withdraw the
engagement, nor manage it with lefs
money. Is not the ruin of fuch a
fituation fufficiently evident ?
CHAP. XV.
Of the tnojl advantageous method of dif-
of $ol. in farming.
I Dedicate this chapter to the fervice of
the fervant, labourer, and other poor
men, who, faving or acquiring a fmall
fum of money, are defirous to become
farmers : But it is impoflible, in the title of
this or any of the fucceeding chapters, to
fpecify minutely the fum which will be
proved
( "I )
proved in the calculations ; when I fay
50 /. I mean only a fum under or over that.
It may vary from 35 /. to 65 /. nor is
there any thing inaccurate or ufelefs in fuch
want of previous limitations. It is more
genuine to reject them, and mews that the
eftimates are not warped to anfwer pre-
ciiely a given point, but either extended or
diminimed, according to the circumftances
of the farm.
I muft farther be allowed to premife,
that I aim, in all things, at eftimations of
good hufbandry; confequently, bad far-
mers muft not quarrel with me for not
fquaring my ideas to their practice.
In all the preceding parts of this inquiry,
gentlemen and common farmers have been
upon the fame footing ; it would only have
multiplied divifions for nothing, to have
made any diftinctions between them : But,
in the article of flocking, it is very dif-
ferent ; a gentleman, as I mall {hew here-
after, muft, in moft cafes, affign more
money to any given parpofe, than a com-
mon farmer : I (hall not, however, make
any diftinction between them, while I
fpeak only of lit tie farms, fmce gentlemen
2 can
can have nothing to do with fuch but
through curiofity; never for profit: And
as to farms of pleafure, "viz. Experi-
mental ones, I fhall treat fingly of them
hereafter. When I come to middling and
large farms, I fhall make diftindions be-
tween thefe clafles.
Little farms muft be on rich foils, or at
leaft fuch as require no improvement.
There are variations in thefe, which muft
have various calculations.
N I.
Divifion of 50 /. in the flock^ &c. of a
farm half grafs and half arable , on a clay
or loam foil.
Rent, &c.
Rent of 1 6 acres of
land, - - - - - - . 16 16 o
Tythe at 4 s. ia the
pound, - - - - . - - - 3 7 2
Rates of all forts, and
ftatutework,4J.inditto, - - 3 7 2
Carryover, .23 10 4
Implements, &c.
A cart with ladders, .8 o o /. s. d.
A plough, - - - i 1 1 6
A pair of harrows, I I o o
A barley roller, - I 10 o
Cart and plough har-
nefs for 2 horfes, 2 20
A fcreen, a bufhel, a fan,
fieves, forks, rakes,
a fhovel, fpade, pick-
axe, fey the, &c. &c. I 10 o
Tenfacks, - - - 150
Dairy furniture, - o 1 o o
17 18 6
Livefock.
Two Horfes, - . 16 o o
Four cows, - - - 20
A fow, - - - -
Seed and tillage :
Paid the preceding
tenant for 3 acres of
wheat, ploughed thrice,
at4/. - - - - 1160
Seed, - - - - j 16 o
Carryover, .5$ 5 6
VOL. I. I Sowing,
( 4 )
Brought over, .58 56
Sowing, - - - - o i 6
Water furrowing, -030
One ploughing for
3 acres of oats, - o 12 o
Seed, - - - - i 10 o
Sowing, - - - 009
Water furrowing and
harrowing, - o I 6
_ 289
Sundry articles.
Wear and tear, and
fhoeing a year, - ' . 2 o o
Houfe-keeping and
cloaths a year, befides
what the garden and
farm yields, fuppofe a
man, his wife, and 4
children, and alfo be-
fides what the wife and
children earn, - - 500
700
- 6 7 H 3
Thus the reader finds I have run up a
calculation to above 67 /. and under the
title of joT. but I know not, in hufbandry^
7 a lei's
a lefs farm than this, to have part of it
arable, that can poffibly be fupporcd to
anfwer in the leaft to the farmer. Bat,
before I proceed, I muft make a few obfer-
vations on fome of the preceding articles.
Implements.
Some of thefe I allow fo little a farmer
to buy fecond-hand, but not to hunt out
at a fale for the cheapeft fort, which are
fo often the deareft in the end. The cart
new would have come to 12 /.; the barley
roller to 2 /. or 3 /. 5 s. the harnefs to 3 /. or
4 /. the mifcellaneous articles to 2 /. or
2 /. 5 s. but I fuppofe him to be pofleiTed of
a fpade, pick-axe and fcythe. The facks,
plough and harrows I do not alloy/ him to
buy fecond-hand at all.
Livejlock*
Such a farmer as this, in common, would
get the two horfes perhaps for 5 /. or 6. /.
but fuch ftocking is nothing but ruin ; dog
horfes eat as much as good ones, but will
by no means do their work. With fuch a
pair of horfes as I allow him, he may, in
cafe he has an opportunity, and it does not
interfere with his own work, do fome
I 2 ploughing
ploughing for any neighbouring gentleman
or farmer that will employ him ; if he
and his team can earn 4 or 5 s. a day, now
and then, it will be an advantage; but fuch
as he could never gain with 50 s. horfes.
Four cows to 8 acres of land (with 2
horfes) is a large allowance, but he muft
have a good ftock, or he can never live at
all j befides, he may feed his horfes in a
good meafure with an acre or two of clover,
which he may eafily manage in a year or
two.
Seed and tillage.
In this farm, and all the fucceeding ones,
I fuppofe the farm entered at Ladyday^
and the preceding tenant paid for both the
Michaelmas and fpring crops : and this me-
thod I chufe preferably to any other be-
caufe it will anfwer the entering both at
Ladyday and Michaelmas. If it is the
latter, the expences are, perhaps, the fame,
only paid in horfe keeping, inftead of per
acre to the farmer.
This little farmer's yearly account will
Hand thus :
( "7 )
''" Expences.
Rent, ^ i - ;
Tythe, .;-' '
Town charges,
Seed for 3 acres of wheat,
Ditto for 3 of oats, " .- \
\Vear and tear,
Houfe-keeping, &c.
Produce.
3 Acres of wheat, - 12 o o
4 Cows, - - 20 o o
32 o o
Expences, ^ra' [^Cui 33 J ^ 4
Product, - ' 3 2
Deficiency, (I -;-T , f ; .,; - i 16 4
Intereft of the flock, - - 4 u o
Lofs, - - - - 674
This will not run him in debt, nor per-
haps diftrefs him, becaufe he may difcharge
it, either by felling a hog now and then,
breeding up a calf, or earning a little
money with his horfes and cart, or plough ;
I 3 and
( "8 )
and thefe articles will probably amount to
more than the deficiency, and leave him
fomething that may be called profit.
It muft be remarked, that 4 /, per acre
of wheat, on an average, is a large produce,
and beyond what is gained by moft little
fanners ; and 5 /. a cow is not a low efti-
mation. The reafon that I allow fuch fums,
is the furplus of time upon the farmer's
hands, befides what is requifite for the
common tillage of his 8 acres ; which time
I fuppofe him to beftow upon his land in
fummer, in ploughing it much oftener than
common, and in both fummer and winter
in carting earth and ditch fluff unto it. He
will have fufficient time to make good and
deep ditches, throughout his farm, and alfo
to cart away the earth that comes out of
them. By thefe means I fuppofe him to
get better crops than common with little
farmers; and his grafs may be managed
in the fame manner.
His whole time will not, however, be
taken up ; we may fuppofe him to go to
day-labour a third part of the year, and
earn 8 /. In that cafe the accqunt will be
thus :
Labour,
( "9 >
Labour, - - \.* .800
Deficiency, -r. - - 674
. i 12 8
Whicfi will be all he has to anfwer the
favings while he was a labourer, which
muft be oppofed to the accidental produce
of a pig, a calf, or work with his horfes.
Now, fuppofing that the farm in one cafe
maintains him, and the labour, in the other;
fo far they are upon a par. But the labour
is -liable to- no chances nor accidents; the
farm to many.
It is very evident, therefore, that a
labourer, poflefled of 91 /. taking ftich a
farm, is acting not only with imprudence,
but even folly, and much .to his preju-
dice.
vr* ^nrvr* #i m :.(\ s%+ twv.' Jo CBifQjloq -tl
N^a.
Variation the firft.
The arable part of the above farm to be laid
doivn tp graft.
Firft year.
All expences the fame as
before, ^.91 4 7
I 4 Second
Second year.
Sundry articles of expence, /. s. d.
except that of feed, - 30104
Seed of 8 acres of oats, 400
Grafs feeds for ditto, - 1200
.46 10 4
Produce.
5 Acres of oats, - - 1500
4 Cows, - - - 20 o o
Expences, - - - 46 10 4
Produce, - - - 35 o o
Deficiency, - - - n 10 4
Original fum, - - 9147
Total, .102 14 ii
Which total it is neceflary, at firft, to
be poflefled of, when the plan is reducing
the whole farm to grafs. When once the
8 acres of oats are in the ground, he may
fell fome of his ftock, and with the produce
purchafe more cows. For inftance,
Plough, - ' - . i u 6
Harrows, - I 10 O
Roller, - - i jo o
Carry over, . 4 1 1 6
Harnefs
Brought over, .4116 /. s. d.
Harnefs for 3 horfes, i i o o
Sundries, - i 10 o
Sacks, - - 150
One horfe, * - 800
. 16 16 6
Which may be fold for 12 o o
Which 12 /. will purchafe two cows and
a young heifer. When the farm is in this
iituation, the annual account will ftand
thus: /. s. d.
Rent, tythe, and town charges, 23 10 4
Shoeing of horfe, and wear of
the cart, - - - o 15* o
Houfe-keeping, &c. - 500
1-29 5 4
Produce.
6 Cows, **;' 30 o o
Profit on breeding a heifer
conftantly, - -
Expences,
Profit on the farm, - . i 14 8
* The horfe muft earn fomething, in being let, or fome
other way ; for it will not anfwer to keep him all the year
for the farm alone.
But,
Brought over, . i 14 8
But, as it is all grafs, and
confequently very little labour
required for it, he may do his
ditches well, and carry the earth
unto the land, and yet have
full half the year to go to labour,
and confequently we muft
charge half a year; we will call it, 12 o 9
*3 H ~8
Deduct the intereft of the flock, 5 2 o
Clear profit, - .8 12 8
Upon this account, one remark of great
confequeace is, the vaft fuperiority of the
graf& farm, which ought to be a leflbn to
people who want little farms, to concern
themfelves with arable land ; for it deprives
them of all profit, and at the fame time
lays them open to great and numerous
loffes.
N 3 .
Variation the fecond.
Divifton of 50 /. &c. in a grafs farm^ the
foil clay or loam.
Rent of 12 acres of
grafs land at 25 s. 15 o o
Carry over, jT. 15 o o
Tythe,
( 1*3 )
Brought over, . 15 o o /. s. d.
Tythe, at 4 /. - 300
Rates, &c. at 4 /, - 3 o o
-- ' 21 o o
Implements.
A cart, 800
Forks, fcythes, rakes,
&c. &c. - o 10 o
Dairy furniture, - o 10 o
JIarnefs, - - o 15 o
-- 9 *S o
.
Livejlock.
One horfe, - 800
4 Cows, .j, ^y,, - 20 o o
A fow, ^ ^*>, ji ^ , o 15 o
-- 28 tf . A
Sundry articles.
Shoeing and wear of
cart, - - o Ij' 6 ^^f
Houfe-keeping, &c. 500
-6* 5 o
The annual account of this farm will be
follows:
Expences.
Experices. /. s. d.
Rent, &c. si o o
Sundry articles, 5 1 S
.26 15 o
Produce.
Four cows, - - - 20 o o
Three quarters of a year's la-
bour, 1800
38 o o
Expences, - - .. - ... 26 15 o
Profit, - "Ti } o
Intereft of the flock, - 3 5 o
Clear profit, - - .800
In thefe accounts 5 /. the wife and chil-
drens earnings, and the farm (befides the
ftated produce) in the articles of fwine,
garden, milk, &c. are fuppofed to maintain
the whole family, and I believe the calcu-
lation is not at all ftretched. And, accord-
ing to this account, he apparently is the
better for his farm by 8 /. a year, and at
the fame time liable to no lofles by bad
crops : I fay apparently, becaufe it is not
totally fo, as we may fuppofe him, before
he took the farm, to fave fomething
annually, which enabled him to hire it;
confequently
confequently that faving mould be deducted
before the remainder is called the profit of
the farm; but the amount of this faving
will not admit of calculation.
I fhall not extend thefe variations far-
ther, as fuch very fmall farms will not
admit near fo many as larger oaes.
It is obvious, from thefe few, that a
labourer is a poorer man after he hires a
farm that requires a plough to move, than
while he depends only on his labour ; but
with a farm all grafs, the cafe is different j
it anfwers to fuch an one to hire a farm
partly arable, to lay it down to grafs ; but
it appears to be much the moft profitable,
notwithstanding the fuperiority of rent, to
hire one that is all grafs, which may alfo
be done for lefs money than an arable one.
CHAP. XVI.
Of the mojl advantageous method of difpojing
ofiool. in farming.
MANY obfervations ufed in the pre-
ceding chapter are equally applicable
to this : we are yet in the region of little
farms.
( 1*6 }
N i.
of ioo/. in flocking a farm all
arable^ the foil clay or loafa.
Rent, &c.
Rent of 25 acres at /. j. d*
i /. i s. - . 26 50
Tythe, at 4 s. - 540
Town charges at 4 j. 5 40
36 13 o
Implements.
A cart, - - . 8 o o
A plough, - i 1 1 6
A pair of harrows, - i 10 o
A barley roller, - i 10 o
Cart and plough har-
nefs for 2 horfes, 220
Screen, bufhel, &c. &c. i 10 o
Ten facks, - 15
17 8 6
Livejlock.
2 Horfes, - .1600
i Cow, - 500
A Sow, - o 15 o
, 21 15 o
Carryover, . 75 16 6
Paid
( 127 )
Brought over, . 75 16 6
Seed and tillage.
Paid the preceding tenant,
for ploughing 8 acres
four times, at 4 J. . 6 8 9
Wheat-feed, for ditto, 4 16 o
Sowing, ^j*^ ""Ca^ 040
Water-furrowing, -080
Ploughing 5 acres twice, 2 o o
Barley-feed for ditto, 2100
Sowing, - 013
Water-furrowing, -026
Clover-feed, with ditto, I o o
Sowing, - '- '"*"* o 13
Ploughing 3 acres once, 0120
Oat-feed for ditto, - i 10 o
Sowing, - -009
Water-furrowing, - o i 6
- 19 15 3
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, - . g 10 o
Houfe-keeping,cloaths,
&c. befides the aflift-
ance of the farm, and
the earnings of the
wife and family, 5008 10 o
104 i 9
Under
( "8 }
Under the article feed and tillage > I ftate
8 acres of wheat, 5 of barley, and 3 of
oats; which, on loams and clays, will
form no bad courfe of crops ; that is, one
third wheatj one third fpring corn, and
the other third fallow and clover. Inftead
of barley, it will be an advantage fometimes
to fubftitute beans. The annual account
of this farm will ftand as follows.
Expences. I. s. d.
Rent, &c. 37 13 o
Seed for 8 acres of wheat, - 4 16 o
Ditto for 5 acres of barley, or
beans, - - - 2 10 o
Ditto for 3 acres of oats, - i 10 o
Wear and tear, - ... - 3 10 o
Houfe-keeping, &c. --500
54 19
Produce.
8 Acres of wheat, - - 32 o o
5 Of fpring corn, - - 15 o o
One cow, - - - 500
52 o o
Expenoes,
Expences, ;'.-^ .54 19 o
Produce, -_'* ' .*. .53 o o
.V\:,s\ _ _
Deficiency* '^V.i ,i*\*<A. >C* S *9 ^
This deficiency muft be fupplied ^by
working for others with his team, or feme
other method*; but not .by his own lar:
bour, as this farm will not allow of fpare".
time enough for that.
Now as he maintained himfelf by his
labour before, and faved fomething befides j
and, as he does no more than maintain
himfelf after he is a farmer, without ,fecu-
rity from misfortunes of bad crops; ft is
extremely evident, tHat he lofes the intereft
of his money by turning farmer.
But as all contingencies are hazardous,
the lofs attending tnis farm is beft ftated
- - f r, r , - - - . , , -
thus: '-? V J #/
Deficiency, "3 id Lj O 2
Intereft of flock, > ^, -." 5- 7 o
-..- -
Total-, lofs, .8'6 o
* He may (if he can get them) take fom'e cattle in to
joift on ftraw, as'-'he will 1 have enough for that purporfe.-
But this, being(an uncertainty, muft not be carried to
account.
VOL. I. -K N 9 sj.
( 130 )
N 9 2
.. 11 Variation thefirjt.
Thc'-f&mkfam hcdfarabk and half graft. '
Reiit,>&c. - - - . 37 13' o
Implements, - - 17 8 6
Lire ftock,;2.horfes^. 1,6. ,o o
A fow, .-;-". - o 15 o
5 Cows, - 25 ' o o
Bid vcl 'tis* "~"~~^ : 4 1 , ^./'I
j23l)lbil / -.Lfr j^. ^
, ,} ' .
. Seed and Tillage,
, - . . /. ' "
Ploughing 4 acres of
.:: JT j c?- f5 .,
..wheajy - - - A,-j3 4 o
vrt JXrlf , ~ .
Seed, - - 2 S ,o
1 ' -'
^ffill|E . . . - . a 3
%e M urr OWi ng, . , c? 4 o
P^ougfiing i acre barley, o "8 o
- J
o 100
o p.i , ;( .
-006
for pats, . - o 1 2 o .
. ; ia chri.? wool
o^|r^ -li-pr-tt - I Io . ( ^..
Sowing, - ^ o o 9r
Water-furrowing, - o i 6
^ -- _JLLL_
Carryover, ^ I0 5 J 7
Wear
Brought over, . 105 17 6
Wear and tear, - 300
Houfe- keeping, &e. - - - 500
113 17 6
Dairy furniture, o J o o
IJ 4 7 6
The a-nnual account of this farm will be
as follows :
c
<\ '*,.
Seed ifor 4 acres of wheat, -^ $
Ditto for 5 * of fpring corn, - ''' 'k P b*
WearMteaf, ' ,?S L ; ? ;' ; 3 ^d !f! d
TT r i ^l3C3i^,Ilin C JI' -
Houle-keein ccc. .. -. -- * o 6
TT r i
Houle-keeping,
.
Produce.
4 Acres of wheat, - 1600
2, Ditto of barley or beans, *6" b i^
5 Co ^s, '; 25 ^<|
The arable part of this
farm will allow him
Carry over, . 47 o o
* After the land is in tolerable order, wholly fallowing
3 \ acres will be fufficicnt.
K si to
( 133 )
Brought over, * 47 o O
to abfent himfelf at la-
bour about ~ of a year ;
we may therefore add, 600
53 o o
Expences, 50 n o
Profit, 390
Intereft of the ftock, - 5140
Profit, - -290
Lofs,. ' - - -3.5
The lofs remaining upon either of thefe
, farms, is not probably the whole amount
of their mifchievous effefts, as the farmer
muft be fuppofed to have faved fomething
annually, before he hired either.
N 3 .
Variation thefecond.
The fame farm all grafs.
Rent, at 25 /. - . 30 o o
Tythe, at 4 s. 600
Rates, at4^. 600
'42 o o
Implements.
A c.irt^ - - ''. 8 oo
Harnefs for i horfe, o_5 o
Carry over, 8150 42 o o
Sundry
( 133 )
Brought over* /. 8 15 o 42
Sundry fmall articles, o i o o
1 1 1 1 *" 1
- 9 5
^ - ----- - T^*"- ,
-5i 5 o
Ltyeflock.
l Horfe, - - - &
o
i Sow, - * o 15
o
8 Cows, - - 40 o
Shoeing, and wear of cart,
o 17 o
Dairy furniture,
I IO O
Houfe-keeping, <&c.
500
i
,. 107 7
The annual account 'will be :
Expences.
/. s. d.
Rent, &c. "**f'f
42 o o
Shoeing and wear, ' *
o 17 o
Houfe-keeping, &c. ~-"J 4
500
47 17 o
Produce.
/. s. d.
8 Cows,
40 o o
Swine fold, and profit on two
heifers always breeding,
2 O O
Carry over,
4~ o
K 3
Three
( '34 )
Brought over, . 42 o
Three fourths of the year's
labour, 18 o
60 o
Expences, 47 J 7
Profit, 12 30
Intereft of the ftock, 5 7 o
Clear profit, - .6160
This profit is confiderable, and makes it
anfwer to take the farm ; which will always
be tlie cafe with grafs ones, let the quan-
tity of land be what it may. The article of
the two heifers and fwine charged here is
this : I fuppofe that 8 Cows, to maintain
hogs', more than fufiicient for the family;
fome are fold ; and I likewife fuppofe" two
heifers alv;ays to be kept of his own breed-
ing, the profit upon which, and the fwine
fold, to amount to 2 /.
I think, (confidering the rent) I do not
exaggerate in fuppofing 8 cows, 2 young
cattle, and i horfe kept on 25 acres of
grafs ; but, if the horfe is put out to rlraw
jii the winter, he may certainly (and aught)
more
more than pay it, in being let out, at leifurc
times.
>.'* **f^*'* jl O
,i <~? r; ..-' 'i fi5lrtnji?r
N 4.
Fariation the third.
The fame all arable* -. QK a foil light enough
for turnips. / r V,;~'' *'
Rent, &c. as be%e, . ..57 13 r P
Implements, .ditto, ^., r ' : ,^7 of } f v :, 6
Liveftock, ditto, r ^ ', .^ ' 2,f '^, p
Add .% o^ore cows,. ^ njf ,.^ T n ;[j^0^ p. . o
O J T ^'7/
V<?J cz?zJ tillage. .
, , r u
,o_Acre3 ot wheat, 4
eartnL .^.4160
Seed, 3 12 o
Sowing, _p 30
6 Acres of fpring corn,
2 earths, 280
Seed, 300
Sowing, - - o i 6
Clover feed, with ditto, i 40
15 4 6
Shoeing, wear and tear, and
houfe-keeping, as before, 8 10 o
. no ii o
K'4 The
The courfe of crops moft beneficial for
this farm, when it is large enough to
maintain a flock of fheep, is I. turnips ;
2. barley ; 3. clover ; 4. wheat. But as
fuch a farm as this will not allow of fheep,
fome other ameliorating crop muft be fub-
flituted in their room, but not wholly, as
an acre or two will be of ufe to the farmer,
divide the employment of the year into
different feafons, and throw him in the
way of felling them (to be fed off the land)
in a dear year, to advantage. We will
therefore fuppofe him to raife 2 acres every
year ; the other 4 acres may be dedicated
to white boiling peafe, which will prepare
the land for barley and oats ; and, if they
are well hoed, will prove not fo uncertain
a crop as when left to themfelves. We
will therefore fuppofe the annual account
of this farm as follows :
Ex fences. L s. d.
Rent, &c. 37 1 3
Seed for 6 acres of wheat, - 3 I2
Ditto for 6 ditto of barley
and oats, - - 300
Carry over, .44 5 o
Seed
( 137 )
Brought over, . 44 5 o
Seed, for 6 acres clover, - 140
Ditto 4 of peafe, 200
Ditto 2 of turnips, *;*-"' O" l^b
Shoeing, &c. and houfe-
keeping. &c. " ; '-~ "> 8 10 o
t-V-'J
- 56 o o
Produce. /. j. </.
6 Acres of wheat, gi. - - - 24 o o
3 Of barley, - 900
4 Of peafe, - ,..;&; ^ . 10 o o
2 Of turnips, - :L*n : 3 10 o
3 Cows, ,<V ' - .].' 15 o o
jT. 61 10 o
Expences, : rW l ": 7: '* '- ;- 56 o o
Profit, \ $ 5 10 o
Intereft of the ftock, *^u^ 5 10 o
This product is as large as I can allow.
The peafe certainly ought not to be reckoned
equal to barley ; and the turnips at 35 J. to
be fed off, is a good price, upon an average ?
in countries where the culture is common.
Nor is it any ways below the mark to keep
3 pows and 2 horfes principally on 6 acres
of clover : Add to all this, that the
farmer will not have an hour to fpare to
work
(.( 138 )
work for others ;. this farm will employ
Jiim conftant'ly, and he muft work like an
horfe to do it. After all, the lofs rem^ia-
ing, amounts to the intereft of his money.
Can any thing prove ftronger the unpro-
jfitablenefs of fuch. a farm ? It is ufelefs to
vary this quantity to 4- grafs and ^ arable ;
and, to all grafs, the proportion will remain,
.and it would at laft be found that all arable
is the only mode in which it would pay;
and the account varies not at all from the
'Jaft*)f the clay and-loam.
O If feeking fuch proportions of arable and
grafs (and other points) as would pre-
cifely keep the man and horfes in regular
and profitable employment, could be an-
fwered" in a farm to be flocked by 100 /.
the variations fhould be extended; but there
is no fuch thing. A much larger capital is
requifue to keep even 2 horfes conftantiy
at work, fo as they ihall not ftop' for want
of the man, nor the man for the want of
-the horfes.
Recapitulation.
' Demanding the moft advantageous me-
thod of difpoiing ico /, in farming, the an-
fwers are :
An
An arable clay or loam farm, L s. d.
of 25 acres, is attended with
the lofs of the intereft of, - 860
Ditto, half arable, and half
grafs, - 350
Ditto, all grafs, profit, 6 16 o
Ditto, all arable, foil light
enough for turnips, neither
profit nor lofs,- f 2$M JCL;.""* o'^ o o
It is very evident, from this ftate of the
cafe, that the lofs is almoft in proportion to
the quantity of arable land : The variation
in the turnip-land farm is an exception,
but then it muft be remembered, the oc-
cupier of that muft work like an horfe ;
and keep all his land cropped ; confequently
the greater breadth of land he depends on,
the worfe his chance in refpect of accidents,
while all is worked with one pair of
hands.
The perfon, therefore, who has an hun-
dred pounds to difpofe of in hufbandry,
mould firft feek 25 acres of land, or there-
abouts, all grafs, that being the moil ad-
vantageous farm for him of all others.
Next, he mould chufe the fame quantity
of a foil light enough for turnips all arable^
* Next
Next, he mould aim at the fame fized
farm, the foil clay or loam, half arable
land and half grafs.
And, laftly, he mould hire one all arable,
the foil clay or loam.
Nor fhould the reader be furprifed at
three out of four of thefe farms proving
unprofitable: I am confident more than
that proportion, of fuch real farms, are a
lofs to their occupiers. But the error, in
the common notions of this cafe, refults
from not bringing the value of the farmer's
own labour, and the interefl of his money,
to account. Suppofe a man earns 25 /. a
year in day-labour, out of which he faves
100 /. to hire a little farm : This 100 /.
brings him in 5 /. a year : So that his con-
dition, at the time of hiring his farm, is a
maintenance, and a capability of laying up
a fmall fum annually out of it, and 5 /. a
year intereft. If no notice is taken 'of his
favings, fure the farm ought more than to
maintain him, and pay the intereft of his
money ; if it does not, he is worfe oft than
before, as his 5 /. was then a certainty,
and now a contingency. And this account
will always prove the pernicious effects of
their
their hiring little farms. But general ob-
fervation will fhew, that this conclufion is
true in every part of the kingdom; for
where are more mife'rable beings to be met
with, than the farmers of fuch little farms
as I am now treating of? ,
The great mifchief is their hiring arable
farms, or fuch as have even one acre to plough.
Grafs ones are evidently profitable, and truly
beneficial to them ; liable to few lofles and
chances againft them ; eafe of labour, and,
in a "word, a fure ftep, with tolerable in-
duftry, to get into larger farms, and to rife
by degrees to a good fortune. The profit
of 6 /. ifrr. a year, on one of thefe, i s
confiderable, and would prefently accu-
mulate to a fum confiderable enough to
hire a farm of 50 or 60 acres of land.
Whence, therefore, comes the infatuation
fo common among thefe people, to think
themfelves no farmers till they get a
plough ! the only implement that can in
any cafe enfure their ruin. It is much
to be regretted, that landlords will let fuch
fmall arable farms ; the expence of laying
them down to grafs would be trifling, and
1 then
( 142 )
then they would prove highly beneficial to
the poor people, and to themfelves alfo.
CHAP. XVII.
Of. the vwft advantageous method of dif-
po/ixj of any fum from 1507. to 2oo/. in
fanning.
J.T . is neceflary .to examine all , forts of
- iiriall farms accurately, for a reafon
':h doer, not .hold with larger ones.
The little farmer muft be fuppofed to have
no, .credit ; confequently, he muft be the
more cautious not to hire an acre more than
manage to advantage, as fuch an
imprudence cannot be afterwards remedied
pplying for a loan to any one.' But a
larger farmer apy eafily be fuppofed to have
'it; fo that, if he does rather over-
ihuot,the mark, it may not be of fo bad
coniequences. For this reafon, I dwell
among little farms the longer, that the
proportions between their money, and the
land that is offered to them, may be known
tvith the greater truth.
N i.
N ;^ 5
Divifion of 150!. in flocking a farm.of t i
acres of clay or leant, attar able'."
Rent, <&c. J ' I. sr : d.
Rent of 36 acres, at
ill A 37 ^6 : <5 f ^ "-*?^ w
Tythe, at 4^' - 6*60
Rates, &c.riij-.- 660 *3 fii
o ^a ; e^miiguolq o*A r T
^j^//..
'^t YJilJA
2 Carts, - ID o o
V- -*VJ;
Implements.
A plough, ,- i ii 6
A ri. ~ f '
A pair of harrows, - I 10. o
... - c - t^IV70-ITff-'lDi rJ Y/
A roller, -- - i to a '
^ 11 i i io g&LrfStfolq onO
Cart and plough haf- .
f c , *5 5 t bnx;l jo iaesibB
nefs for 2 horfes,, - 2 10 o
Screen, bu&el, forks, '
10 backs, * T - i < o "-v>
. H . -loibu
Dairy 'furniture, - / o 15
Liyejlock.
Q Horfes, 20 o Q : ^fcJMfiA '
5 Cows, - - 25 o o
A Sow, - i o o
-- T 46 "o _ o
Carry over, .123 i 6
Seed
( 144 )
Brought over, .123 i 6
Seed and tillage.
Paid the preceding te-
nant, for 4 plough-
ings of 9 acres of
wheat land, - .7 40
Seed, 580
Sowing, - - 046
Water-furrowing, . - o 90
Two ploughings of 6
acres of barley land, 2 80
Seed, - 300
Sowing, - - o i 6
Water-furrowing, 030
One ploughing of 3
acres of oat land, o 12 o
Seed, - - i 10 o
Sowing, - 009
Water-furrowing, - o i 6
Seed for 9 acres of clover, i 1 6 o
Sowing, - 023
23 o 6
Labour.
Affiftance in harveft. Suppofc
Reaping 5 acres of
wheat, . i 50
ico
Carry over, 147 7 o
A lad
( 145 )
Brought over, . i 5 o 147 70
A lad to affift in car-
rying in the corn 10
days, at i j. o 10 o
' i 15 o
149 2 o
Sundry articled
Shoeing, and wear
and tear* - >- 4 o o
Houfe-keeping, and
cloaths, &c. befides the
affiftance of the farm,
and the wife and chil-
drens earnings, 2* -il'- 5 o o
900
.T^"7~^
There are fome variations, in feveral of
thefe particulars, which it is neceflary to
minute.
Implements*
It may appear odd to fome, that I fhould
affign a farm two carts that keeps but two
horfes ; but with one the bufmefs, in har-
veft and hay time, would go on too (lowly :
. VOL. I. L the
( 14* )
the method in which 2 carts are ufed, with
only as many horfes, is this : In harveft,
the fhocks, or ftooks of corn, are laid in
clufters when reaped, inftead of the regular 1
manner of difpofmg them in rows; and
when they are carried, one cart is fixed in
the midft of a clufter, and loaded by a lad,
while the other is drove off with the horfes
to the barn; the filler (thill-horfe) being
changed of one cart into the other. It is
moft convenient, in carting dung, &c. as
there is then no want of moving or being
on the cart to lay the load. This method I
have often feen ufed in both cafes ; but it
is only in cafe the field is either at a diftance
from the barn, or a hill is to go up to it ;
otherwife, each horfe draws his cart alone,
without changing.
More than two horfes I mall not, on any
account, allow fuch a farm as I am now
confidering ; if any profit attends it, I am
certain it can only arife by keeping no more
horfes than was before kept on 25 acres,
and making them work hard the year round
for their living. But I mould remark,
that, in the common management of little
farmers,
( 147 )
farmers, four horfes are kept to 56 acre*
of arable land; which is precifely the reafon
why fuch farmers are as poor and miferable
as the leaft of occupiers*
Liveftock.
The two horfes neceflary for this farm
muft do more work than thofe affigned to
the preceding ones ; it is but juft, there-
fore, to allow a fomewhat greater price.
Cows a little farmer mould always con-
trive to keep, although his farm is all
arable: thefe muft fubfift on clover and
ftraw*
Seed and tillage.
tinder this head I ftate the coiirfd of
crops, which it will be moft advantageous
for fuch a farm to be thrown into; that is f
one fourth fallow, a fourth wheat, a fourth
fpring corn, and the remaining fourth
clover ; by which means half his farm is
what may be called fallow every year ; and,
confequently, the whole kept in good order,
no two crops of corn ever coming together.
Befides which advantage, he will always
L 2 have
have a field of clover for his horfes and
cows.
Labour.
The fum I have charged under this head
does not include the affiftance he is likewife
to hire at wheat fowing, which will
amount to a few {hillings more : the whole
will form a fum very fmall in the eyes of
many; I mould, therefore, here explain
how one man may cultivate 36 arable acres
with fo little afliftance. Let us take every
month in the year from the conclufion of
harveft.
Oclober. 9 Acres of wheat ploughed
and fowed, (the feeds-man hired),
and water-furrowed : This may be
called days of work, - 15
9 Acres of laft year's wheat
ftubble to be ploughed up, 9
_4
November. Thrafhing * 13 qrs. of
wheat, 26
* Here I make the wheat yield 2-^qrs. per acre, and yet
charge it only 4/./*racre; but fomething mufl be al-
lowed for the fcreenings which the farmer ufes in his
family (and which -are thraihed like the reft) and alfo on
account of all his corn being fold at home, or at leafl to a
neighbour; and alfo to the general attention of not
cramping him in this Calendar, 'with charging lefs work
than the reality.
December.
December. Thrafhing, 9^ qrs. of wheat, 20
Ditto 10 qrs. of fpring corn, 5
January. Ditto 26 qrs. of fpring corn, 1 3
Ditching 12 perches, 12
JL?
February. Ditching 25 perches, rrx--. 25
March. Ploughing and fowing 9 acres
of barley and oats, and water-fur-
rowing, <- - 13
Manuring, - 13
-;a*i/ ^ni^/I AS*- ~E>
AfrlL The fecond ploughing of 9 acres "*
of fallow, " i Hiifj In " > I itfi 9
Sundry fmall articles of work, 1 7
."26
May. The third ploughing of fallow, ; " 9
Ditching or manuring, &c. 1 7
"^6
June. Mowing, making, and carting
2 acres of clover hay, - 10
Thiftling or weeding the 1 8 acres
of corn, - - - T7
1/
27
. The fourth ploughing, of 9 acres
of fallow, - q
Carry over, 9
L 3 Mowing,
Brought over, 9
Mowing, and harvefting 5 averts
of fpring corn, - 1 2
Sundry {mall articles of work> 5
^6
Augitfl. Reaping 4 acres of wheat, i o
Harvefting ditto, 3
Mowing and harvefting 4 acres
fpring corn, - - - 10
Sundries, - 3
.H!
September. Mowing and making, &c.
i acre of clover-hay, - - 6
The fifth ploughing of g acres
of fallow, throwing it up for the
winter, - g
Chopping, and carting 9 acres of
wheat ftubble, _3
"27
From this Calendar of the year's work,
it is extremely evident that one man, with
the affiftance I have fuppofed, is fully able
more than to cultivate, and completely too,
3 6 acres of arable land. I have in no article
pinched him for time; but in moft allowed
hba more than a fufficiency for all forts of
6 wprk,
work, and many weeks for trifling jobs
unfpecified.
I come now to the annual account of this
farm.
Expences. I. s. d.
Rent, &c. - 50 8 o
Seed for 9 acres of wheat, "580
Ditto for 9 of fpring corn, - 4100
Ditto 9 of clover, - i 16 o
Labour, - - - I 15 o
Wear and tear, and houfe-
keeping, &c. - - 9 o o
7 2 17 Q
Produce.
9 Acres of wheat, 36 o o
6 Acres of barley, - -1800
5 Cows, - * - 25 o o
79 o o
Expences, ' -+ '^" f ' - 72 17 o
Intereft of 156 /. - V*w M ^ 716 o
Deduct, - - - 630
Lofs, - - - . i 13 o
L 4 N 2.
*
Variation thefrft.
The fame ) half grafs and half arable.
Rent, - . 50 8 o
Implements the fame as
before, except one cart, - 18136
Livejlock.
2 Horfes, ~.r 1 6 o o
i Sow, * v o 15 o
7 Cows, - 35
-. - 51 15 o
Seed and tillage.
4 Earths of 44 acres
of wheat land, - . 3 12 o
Seed, 2 14 o
Sowing, T ^-023
Water- furrowing, ' 046
3 Earths for 4^- acres
of barley and beans ? i 1 6 o
Seed, 250
Sowing, - o i i^-
Waters-furrowing, 023
One earth for 3 acres
of oats, ^ o 12 o
Carryover, , n 9 IT I2 l6 ^
2. eartha
( J53 1 ')'
Brought over, . n 9 i-l iso 16 6
2 earths of if acre
of peafe or beans, 0120
Seed for 47, 2 50
Sowing, " " o I if
Water-furrowing, 023
14 9 6
Shoeing, wear and tear,
and houfe-keeping, w ^ .,,- 8 10 o
- J 43 16 o
And the annual account will be :
Exfences. /. s. d 9
Rent, &c. 50 8 o
Seed for 4f acres of wheat, - 2 14 o
6 Barley, &c. - 300
3 Oats, - - - - i 10 o
Shoeing, wear and tear, &c. - 8 i o o
.66 2 o
Produce.
4f Acres of wheat, - 18
6 Of barley, &c. fe^A r V 18
7 Cows, * ^!*,3s^y, 35
Carryover, .710 o
T
( '54 )
Brought over, .71 o o
To this muft be added
fome part of his time at la-
bour, which his farm will
fpare ; and herein we muft
be guided by the fame all ,
arable, and not the farms
of the preceding chapters,
which being conducted on
fomewhat different princi-
ples, the analogy muft not
be the rule ; the proportion
of the laft farm will give to
this about a third of the
year, or - - - 800
79 o "~o
Expences, : '. . - - 66 ,2 o
12 18 o
Pedud intereft of the flock, 730
Profit, * - - 5 15 o
N 3 .
Variation thefecond.
The fame all.gr of s y applied to the dairy.
Rent, &c.
Rent of 36 acres, at
2 5 ' - - 45 o
Carry over, 45 o o
Tythe
( 155 )
Brought over, .45 ^ * &
Tythe at 4 s. - 9
Rates at 4 s. '- 9
63 Q
Implements.
One cart, - -800
Cart-harnefs, - o 15 o
Rakes, forks, fcythes,
&c. - - o 15 o
Dairy furniture, - i 10 o
II Q
Live Stock.
One horfe, - 10 o o
12 Cows, - 60 o o
2 Sows, - I 10 o
71 10 o
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, f lf ; , - I o o
Houfe-rkeeping, &c. 500
600
. I5 1 I0
The ANNUAL ACCOUNT,
E x fences.
Rent, &c. - <- jC 6 3
Shoeing, wear and tear,
}ioufe-keeping> &c. f ^ ^ 6 o Q
^69 o o
Pro-
Produce. L s. d.
iz Cows, 60 o o
Profit on 5 heifers always
breeding, -, - 10 o o
Swine fold, - 506
75 o o
Add two thirds of the year's
labour, - - 1600
91 o o
Expences, - ~ - 69 o o
22 o o
Deduct intereft of the ftock, 711 o
Clear profit, . 14 9 o
No one can imagine the product of this
farm exaggerated, fince it is but a trifle
more than 40 s. an acre, which, from land
that rents at 25 s. an acre, is very trifling,
and much more under the truth than
over it.
N 4 .
Variation the third.
The fame all grafs applied to fatting.
Stock. 1. s. d.
Rent, &c. - 63 4 o
Dairy furniture, - o 10 o
Carry over, . 63 14 o
I Cow
( '57 r
Brought over, .6314 o
Livejlock.
i. Cow, . - .5 . P o
40 Home-bred heifers
bought in May, 120 "o o
A fow, v - -, o 10 o
: "- J> 125 10 o
Houfe-keeping, &c. <3*i - 5 o o
Horfe and cart hire for ditch
earth, 3 o o
w.tfrl ' J 97 4 o
This farmer buys neither horfe nor cart r
becaufe it will by no. means anfwer for
the carting of manure~alone j the .hire is
therefore charged. Home-bred heifers of
about 3 /. each I take to be the moft pro-
fitable branch of fummer-grazing ; but in
cafe 40 pf them fhould not eafily be pro-
cured, (which however, is not at all likely),
then the number may be made up with
fmall black cattle. The price I calculate
them at, I apprehend, is about the average
of feveral years. I "have known them from
40 s. to 5 /. The cow and the fbw is
bought more with an eye to the fanner's
houfe-keeping than to the flpck of thq
farm.
( 158 )
farm. The annual account will ftand
thus:
Expences. /. s. d.
Rent, &c. - 63 4 o
40 Heifers, - 120 o o
Houfe -keeping, &c. 500
Horfe and cart hire, - 300
. I9 1 4 o
Produce.
40 Fat heifers fold ia au-
tumn, - 200 o o
i Cow, - 5 o o
205 o o
Four fifths of the year's la-
bour, - 19 4 _ o
224 4 o
Expences, - 191 4 _ o
33
Deduct interefl on flock, - 9 17 o
Profit, - - . 23 3 o
This account calls for fome very material
obfervations. Firft, there is no common
farmer poflefTed of 197 /. that would hire
fo fmall a farm as 36 acres of land; and
yet
( '59 )
yet we find that fum is here applied to a
very profitable ufe in flocking fo finall a
farm ; and the benefit depending on very
few contingencies, and liable to no misfor-
tunes of bad crops, &c. &c. &;c.
Secondly, we find fatting to be more
profitable than dairying, which is a cir-?
cumftance of confequence, and muft be fur-
ther examined in future calculations.
Thirdly, the profit here charged I can-
not fuppofe will be by any one objected to;
40 s. not being a confiderable difference
between a lean heifer of 3 /. value, and a
fat one: I think it can no where be
reckoned at lefs when fatted upon land of
25 s. an acre. And the affigning 40 of
them and a cow to 36 fuch acres, is certainly
rather under than over the truth ; as I
know, in a multiplicity of inftances, that
fuch land will very well fat two fuch heifers
per acre ; but one and an half would by
moft have been allowed. But I like to cal-
culate each article in all thefe eftimates low,
to obviate objections.
N jr.
Variation the fourth.
The fame all arable, the foil light enough
for turnips.
Rent, &c. as in N i. - 50 8 o
Implements, ditto, * - 26 13 6
Live flock, ditto, - - 46 o o
Seed and tillage.
4 Earths on 9 acres
wheat, .7 40
Seed, 580
Sowing, - 046
2 Earths on 6 acres
barley land, - 280
Seed, - - 300
Sowing, - - o i 6
i Earth on 3 acres of
oat land, - 0120
Seed, - i 10 o
Sowing, - -009
Seed 9 acres of clover, i 1 6 o
Sowing, - - 023
22 7 e
Labour.
Afliftance in harveft as
in N i. i 15 o
Carry over, . i 15 o 145 8 6
Hoeing
( 161 )
Brought over, . i 15 o 145 8 6
Hoeing sjf acres of
turnips twice, - o 15 o
2 10 o
Sundry articles.
As in N i. j_9_
156"! 8 6
The difference of labour in this farm, and
that upon the clay, is not fo great, but,
with the above additional affiftance, may
be very eafily executed by one man ;
for, if the calendar of work I there inferted
be examined, it will be found that the
variation is a mere trifle. The other
6^ acres I propofe fhould be fown with
white peafe, and kept clean hoed. The
annual account will ftand thus :
Expences.
/. s. d.
Rent, &c. - f? f ;"
50 8 o
Seed for 9 acres wheat, ^-^
580
Ditto for 9 barley and oats,
4 10 o
Ditto for 6^ peafe,
350
Ditto for 9 clover, - ,.,,*
i 16 o
Ditto for 21. turnips, ' - "
o i 6
Labour, -
2 10
Carry over, >T.
67 18 6
VOL. I. M
Shoeings
Brought over, .67 18
Shoeing, wear and tear, and
houfe-keeping, &c. j) _
-(>
Produce.
9 Acres of wheat, .36 o o
6 Of barley, 1800
61- Of peafe> 16 5 o
2^ Of turnips, 476
5 Cows, - 25 o o
99 13 6
Expences> 7 *& 6
.22 14 o
Dedud intereft of flock, - 7 16 o
Profit, - .14 1 8 o
This profit is very confiderable, and
fhews that arable land is advantageous, as
well as grafs, when no more horfes are
kept than really neceffary. If two horfes
more are fuppofed, and confequently more
labour^ wjiere will this 14 /. be found ?
And yet fuch a farm as this is fcarce ever
met v/ith that keeps but' two: fo little
knowing are farmers in the very bufmefs
of their lives.
But the fuperiority of this farm -to that
of the clay toil is fo great, that it fuggefts
the
the hint of a new variation, which is art
increafe of crops, by fubftituting beans in
drills inftead of the fallow : This I venture
to make, as that method in fowing beans
is common in many parts of the kingdom ;
I mean amongft common farmers- for as to
fuch improvements as are not commonly
pradifed, to admit them in thefe eftimates,
would be to extend them to infinity, hd,
at the fame time, render them ufelefs to
the common hufbandman.
N- 6.
Variation theffth.
The fame all arable ', the foil clay , and beans
made thefalloivi
The whole article of flock /. s. d.
will be the fame as before, or' 156 1 8 6
ANNUAL ACCOU"NT~
Rent, &c. . 50 8 o
Seed, 9 acres wheat, 580
9 Barley and oats, - 4 10 o
9 Clover, . i 16 o
9 Beans, at 2 buihels, 312 o
Labour, - - ^> i 15 o
Carryover, .67 9 o
M 2 Wear
Brought over, . 67 o
Wear and , tear, and houfe-
keeping, &c. _ 9. a o
7 6 ~9~
Produce.
9 Acres of wheat, - - 36 o o
6 Of barley, - 1800
9 Of beans, , - - -22100
5 Cows, - - - 25 o o
. 101 10 o
Expences-, - . - - 76 9 o
25 i
Deduct the intereft of the flock, 716 o
Profit, . 17 5 o
If the reader turns over the calendar of
labour on the farm N i. of this chapter^
he will find the 9 acres of land now fown,
was, in that farm, fuppofed to be fallow,
and ploughed five times; now it is certain
that, let the beans be ever fo well cultivated,
the labour will not be more ; or, at leaft r
a trifle more than the fallow. There is
the fowing, and ploughing between the
rows four times, and the harveft. But,,
left it is reckoned too large an addition of
labour, let us Hate it again thus :
Profit
Profit before mentioned, - .17
Sowing the beans, jf.o 4 6
Reaping them, - 250
Profit by this account, - .14 15 6
And here we find that this alteration of
cropping renders the heavy foil as profitable
as the light one. One remark, however,
I muft make; which is, that no one mould
be too hafty in concluding, that this method
of hufbandry, proving very beneficial upon
land of a guinea an acre rent, and with
four horfe-hoeings between the rows (be-
fides one hand-hoeing at leaft), fhould in
the fame manner be profitable upon a
poorer foil, and without fiich culture.
Reafoning by analogy in matters of huf-
bandry, unlefs the circumflances are all
minutely attended to, will, in numerous in-
inftances, prove very delufive.
In jthe difpofition, therefore, of any fum
of money, from 150 /. to 200 /. thefe farms
appear in the following rank of profit :
i. Thirty-fix acres, all grafs, /. s. d.
and applied to fatting,
which yields, - 23 3 o
v '.-.
M 3 2. Ditto,
( 166 )
2. Ditto,- all arable, the foil /. j-. d.
"light enough for turnips, 14 18 o
3. Ditto, all arable, the foil
clay or loam, and beans,
a fallow in the crops, - 14 15 6
4. Ditto, all grafs, and ap-
plied to dairying, - 14 9 o
. Ditto, half grafs and half
arable, the foil clay, &c. - 5 15 q
6. Ditto, all arable, the foil
clay, &c. and , the fourth
of it a fallow, lofs, 130
The firft is not only fuperior to the reft
in profit, but alfo in all thofe .chancesj
which cannot be reduced to calculation ;
and, at the fame time, takes much lefs
time, expence and trouble, than a dairy :
confequently the man, pofleffed of the
fum requifite for thefe farms, had much
better apply it to that ufe than to any
other ; and from the following {ketch of
the fums neceflary to ftock thefe farms,
it appears that the difference between fe-
yeral of them is fmall.
N i.
No i. The ftock,
I1:> - r - I 97
4 -o
2. - "-
* 156
18 6
3 kg o
*? I56
18 6
4-
151
10 o
5-
143
6 o
6. ^/;
156
17 o
The following
is the intereft,
&c. per
cent, paid by thefe
farms. /.
s. d.
N i.
16
4 o
2.
;V 14
12
3-
15
18 o
4-
?: *T J 4
II
5-. -
i*'#r<-4-*9
I
6.
_ ' ^V~ . _ q
18 o
Thus we fee there is not lefs than about
1 6 7. difference in the profit of two farms
that require the fame fum of money to
hire ; than which nothing can be a flronger
proof how very attentive a farmer fhould
be in fixing himfelf in a new farm, and
not run headlong, and in the dark, into
the firft that offers ; becaufe the taking it
will fave expences of fome fort or other,
or becaufe it has fome favourable circum-
ilances belonging to it.
I apprehend fuch a fketch as this will
pe of ufe in afliiling him to form an idea of
M '4 the
( 168 )
the farm that will beft fuit him ; and when
once he has gained a juft notion of that
point, his bufmefs is only to find out that
farm, among many, which approaches
neareft to it.
The grazing farm, in the above fketch,
from the excefs of the amount of the ftock,
feems to belong rather to another chapter ;
but it is one of thofe in which proportion
holds pretty exactly; fo that we may con-
clude from it, that 1507. difpofed in the
fame manner, will prove proportionably
profitable. Such analogy will, however,
do in no other cafe, not even the dairying
farms : And the quantity of land being the
fame, I am induced to place it here, as the
moft proper place.
Upon the three preceding chapters it
ihould here be remarked, that there are
innumerable variations among fuch farms^
of which no account is here taken. They
might be multiplied ad mfinitum t but nei-
ther for the curiofity of the reader, nor the
real ufe of the farmer. Such very numer-
ous
( 169 )
ous calculations might, perhaps, ierve
only to perplex.
The differences of foil are very great;
but, in general, a little farmer fhould covet
that which is extraordinary good, and
never grudge a proportionable rent for it ;
he had better pay even beyond the propor-
tion, than cultivate a foil which requires
any extraordinary amendments. Indif-
ferent land (I am not fpeaking of that
which is very bad, but in rich countries
of 10 s. 12 s. 15 s. an acre) is much more
hazardous in the produce ; befides, let him
never forget that it coils him as much to
plough, to harrow, to fow, to reap, &c.
&c. a poor acre that yields but 20 s. pro-
duce, as a rich one that yields as many
pounds. Rent, compared to this article,
is but a trifle.
There are many countries (indeed moft)
in which a plough never ilirs without four
horfes, perhaps five or fix; and this not at
all from neceflity, but mere cuftom. We
muft fuppofe the farmers of fuch places to
be deeply grounded in their delufion, and
iconfequently that little farmers were in the
fame predicament ; now, the reader has
nothing
nothing to do but to add to any of the
preceding accounts the expence of two or
three more horfes, and confeqr. ?ntly of one
man (for in fuch countries e\ 7 ery plough
has a driver) acA let him then dill:
where the profit of any of them is to be
found; but let him reverfe the medal,
and, I warrant, he will find lofs enough.
It .has appeared very plainly that la-
bourers hiring feveral of the preceding
farms was an injury to them ; being much
poorer afterwards than before ; but to what
a degree of mifery would they plunge, if^
inftead of two, they were to keep four
horfes. In fuch countries little farms muil
confift totally of grafs, or there muft be
none at all. But unhappily fuch are to
be found, to the mifery of many a deluded
man, who, ambitious of being a farmer,
hurries into ruin.
It is alfo the cuftom through thofe parts
of the kingdom in which oxen are ufed in
draught, never to yoke lefs than four to a
plough, but much oftener 6 or 8, This is
a moft unprofitable practice, and totally
ufelefs ; for a yoke of good oxen will-plough
an acre of land in a day, as well as a pair
of
of horfes. However, while 4 are necef-
fary, it effectually precludes fuch fmall farms
as I am now fpeaking of; as the farmer
can no more afford to keep 4 oxen fb*
draught, than he can 4 horfes.
Thefe eftimates mud therefore undoubt-
edly be underftood to concern only fuch
countries as ufe a pair of horfes in a plough
and no driver; and, in other countries,
only fuch men as have the fenfe and fpirit
to acl: contrary to fuch ridiculous cuftoms.
I have in eftimating the ftock of thefe
farms ftated the fums neceiTary to carry the
farmer through one year, which in fmall
farms will, in moft cafes, be fufficient ; nor do
I think it can be effectually done for lefs.
There are fome minute^ variations in
thefe accounts, which are too numerous to
explain each feparately, but I do not think
any can be found, which an attention to
all the circumftances of the farm will not
at once throw into a proper light. All that
arife from rent, tythe and rates may be
altered according to circumftances in a few
minutes: Such are too numerous to be
yaried here.
CHAP. XVIII.
Of the moft advantageous method, on farms
of 40 or 50 acres, of difpofing of from
200 /. to 300 /. in farming.
IMuft claim the fame latitude in this as
in the preceding chapters; not to be
tied abfolutely to the above fum: I fix on
one as fomething of a mark to guide me
by ; not that there is any more ufe in a
calculation for that fum, than in any other
which may arife, as a man is as likely to
have 237 /. for inftance, to difpofe of, as
250 /.
N i.
Divifion of 250 /. in flocking a farm of 50
acres-> all arable, the foil clay or Ioam 9
and beans reckoned a fallow.
Rent, &c.
Rent of 50 acres at i /. 50 o o
Tythe at 4 s. - 10 o o
Rates, &c. at 4 s. - 10 o o
7
Carry over, . 70 o o
5 Imple-
( 173 )
Brought over, .^70 O O
Implements.
2 Carts, - .1600
Plough, - - i ii 6
Harrows, - -200
Roller, - - i 10 o
Harnefs for 2 horfes, 2 IO o
Screen, bufhel, forks,
&c. &c. - 200
Sacks, - - - i 10 o
Dairy furniture, - i o o
28 i 6
Lmeftock.
2 Horfes, - - .24 o o
7 Cows, - - -35 o o
i Sow, - - - - i o o
Seed and tillage.
Four earths on 124-'
acres of wheat land, 10 o o
Seed, - - r ~ - - 7 10 o
Sowing, ----063
Water furrowing, - 0126
Two earths for 9 acres
of barley land, 3 12 o
Carryover, .22 09 158 i 6
Seed,
( 174 )
I 6
Brought over, .
22
o
9
158
Seed, - - - -
4
10
o
Sowing, - -
2
3
Water-furrowing, -
O
4
6
One earth on 3! acres
of oat land,
o
H
Seed,
I
1 5
o
Sowing,
o
ici
Water-furrowing, -
i
9
Seed for 12^ acres of
clover,
2
10
Sowing,
3
IT
n o
Labour.
3 2
In harveft, * . 10
6
3
At fowing times, -
2
J3
i^
Pitching,
2
10
At other times,
7
H
o
23
- --- 23 3 4|
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, 4 J Q __
Carryover, ^T. 4 10 c 213 7 i^-
* I am fenfiblc the fum total of this labour is not want-
ing the firft year, but I charge it as in fucceffive years for
feveral reafons ; the variation is not confiderable, as the
article Seed and tillage includes only two feed times. In
Backing, every thing ihould be rated high.
Hou-fe--
Brought over, .4 10 o 213 7 14-
Houfe - keeping, and
cloaths, befides the
advantages of the
farm in fmall articles,
fuchas garden, dairy,
fwine, &c. and be-
fides the earnings of
the family, if any, 800
Hire of a horfe in har-
veft for 14 days, - I o o
Additions tohoufehold
furniture, : ^&j 5 o o
1 8 10 o
There are variations in this account from
that in the preceding chapter, which re-
quire an explanation.
Rent, &c.
The rent, no more than the tythe and
parifh charges, is an article of great con-
fequence to be minutely accurate in ; as
any may eafily vary it according to private
circumftances. However, I am to keep as .
near the probability of truth as poffible, and .
reckon that the fame land, as treated of in
the preceding chapters, to let for i s. an
2 acre
( '76 )
acre lefs when in farms of 50 acres, than in
thofe of 36. It is an undoubted truth,
that, in rich countries, the lefs a farm is,
the better the land lets : This abatement of
I s. may not beprecifely exact, but I believe
it is near the proportion, as the difference
between 50 and 36 acres is not great.
Implements.
Some of thefe articles I increafe in price
fomething in proportion to the work they
muft perform, and add principally to fuch
as beft admits it from the lownefs of the
preceding rates. The fame obfervation is
applicable to the article Lvueflock^ and par-
ticularly in the increafed price of the horfes.
Seed and tillage.
Under this head is fpecified the divifiort
of the land into wheat, fpring-corn, and
clover ; when a tenant takes a new farm,
he muft not expect to find it thrown into fo
beneficial a courfe as he will afterwards do
himfclf : This year a fourth is fallow, but
it will afterwards be a fallow crop, that is
beans in drills.
Labour,
Labour.
This farm requires much afliftance in this
article,and confequentlywemuftbe fomewhat
accurate in explaining why the above fums
are charged, and this can only be done by
forming a new calendar of the work of this
farm, as before of the other. Without this
afliftance, we mall be in the dark through-
out the whole chapter. We begin, as be-
fore, after the conclufion of harveft*
Otfober. Ploughing 124. acres of wheat
(fowing hired), * Jajrs t 13
Ditto, 124. of laft year's ftubble, J3
To hire. I /. d<
Sowing the wheat, > 063
Water-furrowing, - - o 12 6
November. Thraming 13 quarters of
wheat, - - 3&.fsi 26
December. Ditto, * s>6
January. Either in December, January,
or February, the opportunity of
a dry time or a moderate froft
mnft be taken to re-plough the
VOL. I. N fallow-,
( '78 )
fallow; I may therefore charge
it here, - wife'|f - days, 13
Water-furrowing ditto, - 6
Sundry imall articles of work, 7
"a6
February. Thrafhing 7 quarters of
wheat,. - - 14
Ditto 26 quarters of fpring-corn, 13
"27
To hire.
Manuring, . - - . I 5 o
50 Perch of ditching, at i s. 2 i o o
-3 i5 o
March. Ploughing 12'- acres of bean
land (the fallow) - - 13
Ditto 124 the laft year's bean land
for barley arid oats, -
Tolnre.
Sowing 1 2y acres of beans, ^. o 12 6
Water-furrowing, - 063
Ditto, the other 12^-, o 6 3
Thrafhing 13 qrs. fp. com, 012.0
dpril. Ploughing f 24. adits : 6f barley
and oat land, - - "-flays,, ij
Thrafhing 12 qrs. offering torii, i%
Small articles, 2
5
7b Azr^.
Sowing, 124. acres of fpririg
corn, - . o 3 i|
Water-furrowing, - 063
Thrafhing 25 qrs. beans, - I 5 o
I 14 47
M^y. Ploughing between the rows of
the beans, ' - 7
Manuring, - 8
Hand-hoeing 24- acres beans, - 10
"^5
June. Ploughing between the rows of
the beans, - 7
Hand-hoeing 4 acres of beans, 15
Carting 3 acres of clover-hay, - 5
"Hz
To hire.
Hand-hoeing 6 acres of
beans, - ; ,^V * Io O
Mowing and making 3 acres
of clover-hay, *-/ o 12 O-
Carting ditto, 5 days, 063
Carry over, .283
N 2 Thiflling
Brought over, . 2 8
Thiftling or weeding 25
acres of corn, - I c
3 J3 3
Ploughing between the rows of
the beans, - days* ^
Carting, manure, and other jobbs, 20
27
Augujl. Carting 12^ acres of wheat, 4
Ditto of barley and oats, - 9
Ditto I2rfbeans, - - 9
Sundry fmall articles, - - ^5
27
Reaping 1 2^- acres of wheat, .$ % 6
Ditto of beans, - 3 15 o
Mowing i zL acres of barley
and oats, - - 0189
Turning, and harvefting,
and carting, - - 2 10 o
< 10 6 3
September. Mowing and making, and
carting, 3 acres clover-hay, 10
Ploughing the bean-land, and
throwing it up for the winter, 13
Carting 13^ acres ftubble, 4
, > . .
O *]
To hire y
Chopping and raking, 12 i /./.*
acres of ftubble. - o 18 9
The fum total of the labour hired is 23 /.
3 / 4l d.
Sundry articles.
Under this head fome additions are made
relative to the increafe of bufmefs, and the
article of houfe-keeping is increafed to
bear a more regular proportion to the fub-
ftance of the farmer ; for the fame reafon
is 'the addition to the houfehold furniture,
which I fuppoie him to have been pofiefled of
before. The hiring a horfe in harveft-time
is in very few places a difficulty, as that
is not a buiy time for horfes ; and the al-
lowance I make of price will eafily procure
i < fJitl^T 1 .. ft i
one.
The annual account of this farm will be
as follows :
Rent, &c. ' ; ^ ^ .^-jo ^T#^
Seed for 12^ acres of
i r>
wheat, ^^*' /. 7 id o
TN- C 1
Ditto 12^- acres of bar-
, , ! fa^iUl
ley and oats, * ^ 6 50
; _ f
Carry over, 13 15 o
Carry over, . 83 15 o
N 3 Seed
Brought over, . 83 15 o
Seed for 12^ acres, of
clover, - 2 10 o
Ditto, 124- of beans,. 5
.. . . 7 10 o
Labour, ^ * 2 3 3 4-r
Sundries, - *3 IO
. 127 18 4:-
Acres of wheat, - 50 o o
9 Of barley, - - 27. o . o
134. Of beans, - 37 10 o
7 Cows, - ' - S5 oo
149 10 o
Expences, - - - * 2 7 l8 4r
21 II 74-
Ded ucl. the Intereft of the flock, 11 n o
Profit, ^. 10 07^
The refult of this account is remarkable :
We. find in it that a man may, in foine
inftanccs, increafe his flock, and propor-
tionabl^ r enlarge his farm, and then find
iimfelf poorer than he was before. The
beans, in this account, are valued at more
than in the lafl chapter, for reafons which
need not be here fpecirjed ; and yet we fine}
the profit, upon the whole, not more than
half what it was with the lefs farm. This
is owing to the labour; and fojnething ot
3 this
thft kind will always be obferved in the
dependence upon hired labour, inftead of
the work of the farmer's own 'hands. Be-
fore, he depended on himfelf alone, (a
trifle excepted), but now, nearly, as much
on another man as on himfelf. Nor is this
out of proportion ; for, although the other
farm was 36 acres, and this 50, yet the
labour is much out of this proportion,
which is owing to feafons. If the work
was equally divided through the whole year,
it would be a different cafe j but it comes
at feafons, when, if a man does it not
himfelf, it muft be done by another, and
cannot wait for his having time to perform
it himfelf.
N2.
Variation thefrfl.
The fame > half arable and half grafs^ foil
clay or loam.
Stock.
Rent, &c. as before, - . 70 o o
Implements, ditto, W>2P* 28 i 6
Live-Jlock.
2 Horfes,
5 Cows,
- . 20 oo
25 o o
Carryover, . 143 i 6
N 4 i Sow,
Brought over, . 143 j 6
I Sow, - .100
30 Home-bred heifers, 90 o o
-- 91 o o
and tillage,
6 Acres of wheat land,
4 earths, . 4 16 o
Seed, ? 3 13 o
Sowing, - -,030
Water-furrowing, 060
3 Acres of barley lane],
2 earths, - 140
Seed, - *? i 10 o
Sowing, - -009
Water-furrowing, o I 6
3 Acres of oat-land,
one earth, - 0120
Seed, - r- i ip o
Sowing, * * p o g
Water-furrowing, o i 6
Seed, 6 acres of clover., i 40
T*- 15 J ^
Sundry articles^
Shoeing, and wear ancl
tear, r -r - 4 o, q
Carry over ? X- 253 3 o
Houfer
Brought over, -*5$ 3 o
Houfe-keeping, -800
Additions to furniture, 500
-- 13 o o
This farm I fuppofe him to manage
without afliftance; but he can fpare no
time to work for others.
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Rent, &c. W[$ -^/ '7 o o
30 Heifers, :tV 2f/* ;''*** - go O O
Seed, 6 acres of wheat, "&*% 3 12 o
Ditto, 6 of barley and oats, - 300
Ditto, 6 of beans, ? ' 280
Ditto, of clover, '*** -;^f 140
Shoeing, wear and tear, and
houfe-keeping, \ * \-xJl ^
jf- 182 4 o
Produce.
30 Heifers, fat, .^/l .150 O 6
5 Cows, >^ 5^nw 25 o o
6 Acres of wheat, iv/prr., 24 o o
3 Of barley, - *\i&& 9 o ' o
^ Of beans, o ?c- : ? - 1800
o o
Pro-
Eroduce, - - - . 226 o o
Expences, - t 182 4 o
43 l6
Bed udt the intereft-of the flock, 13 60
Profit, "- - , - .30 To o
This profit is confiderable, and is a frefh
proof" of the -great fuperiority of ; grafs to
^ribft land: If cows are fubftituted for
the 25 acres of grafs, inftead of fatting
cattle, the profit will be -much lefs-; for,
according to the preceding calculations,
we can allot but 8 or 9 ; which, at 5 /. is
only, 45 /. produce ; /whereas the heifers
gay 60 /.. nor Jhould.any.pne. object to 60 /.
as the produce of <z$ acres, at 20 s. an
acre.. Indeed, it is under, much rather
than over the truth. Thefe 25 acres -coft
the farmer 35 /. a year ; furely they ought
to produce 6a,/. to pay every thing, and
intereft-for- the money employed. The
calculation is undoubtedly low.
N Q 3.
Variation the fecond.
Tfcefaitrte) all grtifs foil ', clay^ or loam.
Stock.
Rent, at 24 /. - . 60- o o,
Ty the, at 4 s. - 12 o o
Rates, at 4 s. -- i a o o
Carryover, > --- 84 o o
Imp/e-
Brought over, .84 Q r o
Implements,
Dairy furniture.,, - ,,;- M< v'jTflb O.
*! Uvtfiwk
2.Cpws,. rn ..-^ . 10 o o f ; ..fefcflfc;
1 SQW ' ,<i oiiw "snr :0 J 5 Qrobft
6p Heifers, - 180, o Q;QIQX{:T
190 15 o
Houfe-keeping and furniture, 13 o o
. 277 *5 o
The ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Rent, &c/V ! '.^' n r fift ^^ ^. 84 . o O
c rt -r
60 Heifers, 'rT "" 180 o o
Houfe-keeping, &c. --T . 800
Hire of carts, &c. to carry
the ditch earth unto the
land ' biTn vA.Y n V 3 _o^Q
. 275 o o
Produce.
60 Heifers, r <rs>fi v ,-<8T 300 o o
2 Cows, >wt '-? f ^^Jjtm < IO o o
i^lciofi ittiw .-
Expences, . H a Ma<ff t
Dedud the intereft of the flock, 14 8 o
Profit, - w . 20 12 o
Now
( '88 )
Now, according to the preceding ac~
counts, I fhould here add the produce of
almoft a whole year's labour, or 20 /. at
leaft, which would double the above re-
mainder; but one circumftance muft here
be confidered. A farmer who has 300 /.
worth of cattle on his land may probably
m>rk hard upon his own farm, but not at
all upon that of another man. This has
nothing to do with calculation indeed ; but
it has with human nature; and we mull
not expert that every man will facrifice all
his paflions to the grand object of profit.
This farmer having nothing to do, may,
however, keep himfelf lightly employed
about his fences, in digging excellent
ditches throughout his farm, in draining
any wet fields he may have, and in other
little improvements, to keep him out of
idlenefs. But this ceflation of the farmer's
\torking for others, when not fully em-
ployed at home, makes a great variation in
the profit of the farms taken at large, on
comparing one with another. It is howe-
ver remarkable, that this farmer, almoft in
idknefs, makes double the profit of his
brother,
A T ~ -- - -
brother, who occupies the fame quantity of*
land, but all arable, notwith Handing he is
conflantly employed.
3? .#.* . ;-s?
Variation the third.
"Divifion of 250 1. in Jlocking a farm of 40
acres all arable^ the foil clay or loam, to
be laid doivn to grafs.
Stock.
Rent, at 20 s. - ".40 o o
Tythe, at4-r. - 800
Rates, &c. at 4 s. - 8 o o
56 o o
Implements. .
Thefe the fame as before, - s8 i 6
Live Jiock.
2 Horfes, - . 20 o o
5 Cows, - - 25 o o
i Sow, -^; i> -I* (.' j oo
46 o o
Seed and Tillage.
Four earths on 10 acres
of wheat land, - 800
Seed, - .- __6 o o
Carry over, . 14 o~o 130 i 6
Sowing,
Brought over, . 14 o o 130 i 6
Sowing, - - 050
Water-furrowing, o 10 o
Two earths on 7 acres
of barley land, - 2 16 o
Seed, . - 3 10 o
Sowing, - 6 i 9
"Wafer-furrowing, -036
One earth on 3 acres of
oat land, - o 12 o
Seed, - - i 10 o
Sowing, - 009
Water-furrowing, - o i 6
Seed for 10 acres of
clover, - - 200
Sowing, * - o a 6
a* 13 o
Labour.
This article muft be calcu-
lated with an eye to that
of the 50 -acres all arable,
but, not (as has been al-
ready remarked) in exact
proportion ; beeaufe the
leaft quantity of land re-
quires a kfs proportion of _
Carry over, . 155 14 6
afliftance :
Brought over, .155 14$
afliftanoe: 50 acres re-
quired 23 /. 3 s. 4! d-. At;* C
that rate 40 acres weuld
have i$ /.- 10 J. but we ^"Wi;
fhall fay, as there are no
beans* : - - &L 10 o O
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, - 400
Houfe-keeping, - 800
Furniture, - - 5 o o
17 o 9
. 182 14 6
Having thus flocked his farm, and re-
ceived it in the common ftate of crops, his
next bufinefs will be to lay it down. The
produce of the firft year will be as follows :
I o Acres of wheat, ;.bi?^* 4O O O
7 Of barley, ^| 2i o o
5 Cows, - ^ 25- o o
.36 o o
The ftate of the farm, this firft year, is
10 acres of wheat ; 10 of barley and oats ;
i o of an old clover lay ; and I o fallow :
fecond year the account will vary :
Expenccs.
v *9 2 )
Expences.
Rent, &e. - *- - . 56 o o
Seed for 20 acres 01* if^ring-
corn, - - 10 o o
Ditto, grafs-feeds, - - 20 o o
Labour, - - - 10 o o
Sundry articles, - - 12 o o
108 o o
Produce.
17 Acres o
5 Cows,
Expences,
Produce,
Intereft of
Lofs, -
i barley,
- . 108
;6_
theftock, 10
X-5 1
25 o. o
. 76 o o
o
o
o
4
o
o
- -42
4
o
This year the fields were 20 acres fpring
corn with grafs-feeds, and 20 acres fallow.
The next it will be,
Expences.
Rent, &c. - - . 56 o o
Seed for 20 acres of fpring
corn, - - 10 o o
Carry over, . 66 c o
Seed
i
( 193 )
Brought over, . 66 o o
Seed for 20 acres of fpring
grafs, - - - 20 o o
Labour, - - 10 o o
Sundry articles, * - 1200
.108 o o
Produce.
17 Acres of barley, 5 1 o o
4 Cows fold off, 20 o o
1 8 Acres of new grafs, mown
for hay, flacked on the
farm, and fold, 20 loads,
at 30 s. -. 30 o O
i Cow,
Expences, -
Produce, y+'b
Intereft, -
Lofs, -
106 o
108 o
106 o
2
ii 16
-13 16
o
The next year's account will be as
follows :
Expences.
Rent, &c. - 'ib-ffdl . 56 o o
Labour now cannot be above, 300
Carry over, . 59 o o
VOL. I. O Houfe-
, Brought over, -5$ o
Houfe-keeping, - i^ij; Boo
25 Heifers, - - 75* o o
. 144 o o
Produce.
25 Heifers, fat, - - 125 o o
i Cow, 500
20 Loads of hay, at 30^. 30 o o
Product of the implements
and horfes re-fold ; they
coft, 48 /. i s. 6 d* - 30 o o
.190 o o
Expences, J e '*~'. - 'i 1 142 o o
48 o o
Intereft, 13 8 o
Profit, . 34 12 o
Having thus laid down the whole*, we
muft next ftate the ANNUAL ACCOUNT,
which will be as follows-:
Expences.
Rent, &c, " #* : . 56 o o
Houfe-J^eeping, 800
50 Heifers, *\4^< - 150 o o
Horfes and carts, for ditch-
earth, - 300
. 217 o* o
Produce.
: oJ ir.' Produce* L i.
50 Heifers, fat, :* - 250 o
i Cowy- : : ;* r ' ' -; -'* 5
*55~
Etfpences, -/-*' "r^ i t#? > 3 17
38 o o
Intereft pf the ftock, /:,-*; 14 15 Q
Profit, oMsv -cV-^ ]:>::;;? 23 5 __ o
GENERAL 'ACCOUNT.
Thefirftfto&k, --r .18214 6
Produce of the ftfft year, be-
low the ex'pences of the
fecondby -^i-*-^ S2 o o
Ditto of the fecorid, below
thofe of the third, .';,-j:,. 33 o o
Ditto of the third, below the
fourth, ,s w?i ?; rfc^i 36 O O
Ditto of the fourth, below the
fifth* &c. t::3i: j. 27 o Q
Which total is the fum ne*
ceflary for, .the farm, - jT. 299 14 6
The profit of this farm is fuperior to
that from 50 acres of land, of th^iame
fort, and fame foil ; which is owing to the
difference of rent, and a few more incon^
fiderable circumftances. If the farmer's
labour was now to be added, the profit
O 2 upon
Upon this farm would amount to a more
confiderable fum ; but that is omitted, for
the fame reafon as before mentioned.
The method of calculation I have traced
in this {ketch, is, I apprehend, that which
will, in fimilar cafes, lead, in the fureft and
xnoft accurate manner, to truth. Farmers,
convinced of the fuperior value of grafs
land in little farms, may be afraid of hir-
ing an arable one, with a view to lay it
down, left the expences fhould run up
much beyond what they can afford : But,
if they proceed in this manner in calcu-
lating the expence, they cannot be deceived,
and will difcover from it not only the fum
of money requifite, but the times when it
will be expended, and the amount of the
annual benefit from it. But one thing they
muft let me caution them well againft;
which is, faving any thing (as they may
call it) m the purchafe of grafs-feeds. Lefs
than twenty fhillings worth will not lay
an acre of land well: Nothing can be at-
tended with more pernicious effects than
any deductions from the fum I have
allotted.
( 197 )
Variation thzfourtb.
50 Acres ) all arable^ the foil light enough
for turnips.
Stock. I. s. d.
Rent, &c. as before, -.. 70 o o
Implements, ditto, *- 38 i 6
Livefack.
$ Horfes, * . 24. o o
3 Cows, - - 15 o o
I Sow, - i o o
25 Home-bred heifers,
fleers, old cows, or
black cattle, at 5 /. 125 o o
165 o o
-
Seed and tillage.
Four earths on 124.
acres wheat land, . 10 o o
Seed, - * : *'\' 7 10 o
Sowing, ; 'jp*-^ 063
Two earths on 9 acres
of barley land, - 3120
Seed, - 7 4 10 o
Sowing, ^v: - 023
Carry over, . 26 o ~
Brought over, .26 p < 263 i 6
One earth on 3f
acres of oat land, - o 14 o
Seed, - "- i 15 o
Sowing, j "" k .; - o o 10^-
Seed for 13' acres
of clover, - a 10 o
Sowing, '* 3 X Y
Seed for -12,4. ^cres
of turnip land, -9 6 3 ,.,;} v
- -- 3^ 9 I0
ii 4
Labour. ^TJ-QO
At firft fight this ftould be
lefs than in the clay farm ;
for ^ths of that was always
in corn, whereas or4y h^lf ,
of this is ; but then, pn the
contrary, the turnip Ian4
in this farrnrequires^morq
ploughing than the bean
land in the other ; but
again, to oppofe this cir-
cumftance, is the horfe-
hoeing the beans: The
Carryover, . 294 114
hand
( 199 )
Brought over, . 294. 1 1 4
hand -hoeing to each is
pretty equal, but allow-
ance muft be made for
6 or 7 acres of clover in
this farm mown twice,
and alfo for the attend-
ance on the fatting cattle :
I fhall fuppofe thefe cir-
cumftances to th^w the
two farms on a par, - 23 3 4f
Sundry artickt.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, . 4 jo o
Houfe-keeping, * 8 o
Jrlire of a horfe 7 days
in harveft, - o
Additions to furniture,
I fuppofe this farm to be thrown into an
excellent courfe; that is, I. turnips; 2.
barley; 3. clover; 4. wheat. I fuppofe the
turnips to be drawn, and the heifers, or
fteers, ftall-fed on them, and likewife to
have 6 acres of clover-hay to feed on at
Q 4 the
( 200 )
the fame time; that is, one cutting; the
fecond is for feed. But, in many farm-
yards, and efpecially- belonging to little
farmers, it is twenty to one whether we
find a houfe large enough tQ fat fuch a
number of cattle; the fanner muft there-
fore feed them in his farm-yard, for which
purpofe he muft complete the inclofure of
it (if it is not done already) with flacks of
ftubble ; the expence of making which is
but trifling; and they are perfectly effec-
tual in keeping the yard warm : Next, he
muft provide himfelf with long cribs, (that
is, make them himfelf) or bings, of ftrips
of pole, or rafts, nailed together in the form
of a large manger, arid upon legs, for the
cattle to eat the turnips out of. 1 2 Acres
and t and 6 acres of clover-hay will un-
doubtedly be fufficient to fat, one year with
another, '25 beafts of /. value each.
The annual expence of this farm will be as
follows :
Expenccs. L s. d.
Rent, &c. - 70 o o
ay Beafts, - 125 o o
Seed for 13 7 acres of wheat, 10 o o
Cany over, . 205 o 6
127 Acres,
Brought over, jT. 205 o o
1 27 Acres of barley and oats, 650
127 Ditto of clover, - 2 10 o
127 Ditto of turnips, o 63
Labour, - 23 3 4 f
Sundry articles, - - 13 o o
Produce. I. s.
1 27 Acres of wheat, - 50 o o
Barley 9 acres, - - 27 o o
Clover feed 6 ditto, 4bufhels,
at 15 s. - - - 1800
25 Fatbeafts, 175 o o
3 Cows, - - - 15 o o
285 o o
Expences, - - - 250 4 7^
34 15 47
Deduct intereft of the flock, 16 15 o
18 o 4t
This profit, although not equal to that
of grafs land, is fomething confiderable,
and fuperior to that of the fame farm on
a ftiff foil, by nearly double the amount.
N 6.
N6.
Variation theffth.
Thcfamc^ half graft mid half arable.
The Stock.
Rent, &c. - ' . , . ?0 o
Implements, - *'. - yi - 28 i 6
Live Jlock.
2 Horfes, - .2000
30 Heifers, - go o o
i Cow, *flj*" * 500
i Sow, - - o 15 o
12 Beafts, - 60 o o
175 15 o
Seed and tillage.
6 Acres of wheat, 4
earths, '/V-.' v ' 4 16 o
Seed, (T** - 3120
Sowing, - ""-" o 30
3 Acres of barley, 2
earths, - -140
Seed, [-s-jca. i 10 o
Sowing, - - 009
3 Acres of oats, i earth, 0120.
Seed, - i jo o
Sowing, - -009
Carry over, .13 86 273 16 6
6 Acres
Brought over, .13 8 6 273 $6 6
6 Acres of clover feed, i 40
Sowing^ - o I 6
6 Acres of turnips-
feed, - 030
-- H *7
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, - . 4 o o
Houfe-keeping, - 800
Furniture, 5
^ -- 17 oo
I charge nothing to this farm for labour,
35 he will be able to execute all the work of
it with his own hands. The grafs land I
ftocfc, as before, with home-bred heifers
for fatting ; and the arable I throw in|o
this'eotirfe : i. turnips ; 2. barley ; 3. clover;
4, whsat; fatting beafts upon the turnips.
The AtfjuTAi, ACCOUNT.
Expences.
Rent, &c. - ' M -- ' . 70 o o
30 Heifers, - 7 -" c ; 90 o _ o
Carry over,, . 1 60 o o
12 Beafts,
( 504 )
Brought over,
.160
o
2 Beafts, - .;x*w...'.
60
p
Seed for 6 acres of wheat,
- 3
12
Ditto for 6 of fpring corn,
- 3
o
Ditto for 6 of clover,
w..i ;
4
Ditto for 6 of turnips,
o
3
o
Shoeing, and wear and tear, - 4
o
Houfe-keeping,
8
-*39
19
Produce*
i Cow, -
5
o
o
6 Acres of wheat,
- 24
o
o
3 Acres of barley,
9
p
30 Fat heifers, $*,&$?. -
150
o
1 2 Fat beafts,
84
o
272
o
Expences, ^ - j - v ?
239
J 9
32
i
o
Intereft of the ftock,
a
5
Profit, - -
16
16
RECAPITULATION.
N J. Fifty acres all arable,
the foil clay, yields an
annual profit of,
/ J o
o
74-
Carry over,
j*
7t
2.
Fifty
Brought over, . 10 o y
N 2. Fifty acres half ara-
ble and half grafs, - - 30 10 o
3. Ditto all grafs, - - 20 12 o
4. Ditto all arabte, the foil
clay, and laid down to
grafs, - - 23 5 o
5. Ditto all arable, the foil
light enough for tur-
nips,. - ijifclb - 1 8 o 4
6. Ditto half grafs and half
arable, simy <* f- >(* ! 1 6 1 6 o
It is from hence apparent, that the moft
advantageous farm of thefe fix, each of
50 acres, is the clay one, half grafs and
half arable.
The next is the clay farm, all arable
and laid down to grafs.
The next is the clay farm, all of grafs.
The next is the light foil, all arable.
The next is the light foil, half arable
and half grafs.
And the laft is the clay, all arable.
And the fums required for flocking thefe
farms are as follow.
(( *
N e i. - 231 17 i'
2. - ;,{{ IT/ 266 3 O
i- - sS.8 *5 o
4. - - 599 14 6
5- - 335 *4' 8 t
6. *" ^ A - - 305 13 6
The comparifon between thefe films and
the profit, provds at once the importance df
a man's considering well, before he engages
in any fkrm. The difference between fome
of them is prodigious ; nor can any thing
better difplay the g*eat variations of profit
from different ways of management : And
the contrafts of thefe methods will yet fur-
ther appear,- from thq following table of
the proportion of the profit.
Farms, ProduR. Profit per cent.
N*i- -*i 'w ?t -9 5 o
-. r 43 *4 l6 9
5. 35 o o 12 2 o
4- f- . 3 8 12 13 o
5. ^ 341547 10 7,0
6. - 32 i o 10 9^ o
Here it appears that, one farm pays
almoft double the intereft of another ; an
immsnfe difference, and Claims, in the
5 ilrongeft
ftrongeft manner, the attention of all far-
mers about to fix themfelves.
CHAP. XIX.
Of the moft advantageous method, on farms
of 60 or 80 acres of /and, of difpojing of
from 3007. to 400 /. in farming.
I Enter upon the fubject of this chapter,
well convinced, before I form any cal-
culations, that two horfes are fully fuffi-
cient to perform all the ploughing of any
farm thefe Turns can ftock; but, left I
fhould lay myfelf too much open to cavil-
ling objections, I mall allow three horfes to
feveral of the fucceeding ones, not for the
tillage of them, but the carting. I pre-
mife this firft, as when I come to farms ;
that require more than one plough, an
hundred little variations will at once arife,
that require frelh combinations of every
kind.
"DVO
Ni.
Divifion of from 300 /. to 400 /. in flocking 60
acres of arable land, the foil clay or loam *,
Rent, &c.
Rent, at 18 s. , 54 o o
Tythe, at 4 s. - 10 16 o
Town charges, &c. &c.
4 /. - - 10160
Implements.
2 Carts, - .1800
A plough, - i ii 6
Harrows, - -200
Roller, - - i 10 o
Harnefs for 3 horfes, 400
Screen, bufhel, fans,
fieves, &c. &c. &c. 400
Sacks,
Dairy furniture,
3 Horfes,
8 Cows,
i Sow,
Carry over, . 186 18
It is ufelefs to fay beans the fallow, as that method
was found moft advantageous.
Seed
ferought over, . 186 18
Seed and tillage.
4 Earths on 15 acres
of wheat land, .12 6
Seed, - 900
Sowing, - -076
Water-furrowing, o 15 o
2 Earths on 10^ acres
of barley land, - 4 4
Seed, - -' - 5 50
Sowing, <- - 027!
Water-furrowing, and
harrowing, - o 5 3
One earth on 4! acres
of oat land, - o 18 o
Seed, 256
Sowing, - - o i if
Water-furrowing, &c. 023
Seed, 15 acres of
beans, v*&\ v \' ^
Labour.
Sundry times in the year,
hired to the amount of 32 10
Carry over, . 260 15
VOL. I. P N.
Brought over, .260 *5
N. B. i /. 13^.9^. is in-
cluded in the above ; but the
difference is too fmall to
divide.
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, .- - .1160
Wear and tear, * - & 4 o o
Houfe-keeping, &c. as
before, - 10 o o
Additions to furniture, I o o o
25 16 o
. 286 ii o
There are feveral variations in this account
from the preceding, which require the like
explanations as I gave before.
Rent.
This I have lowered 2 s. per acre on ac-
count of the quantity of land. *
Seed and tillage.
I fuppofe the farm thrown into four
parts, one wheat, one barley and oats, one
clover, and one beans in rows.
Labour.
This article I have ftated, as particularly
as pofiible, in the fame manner I did be-
fore.
fore. It is of fo great confequence, that I
{hall infert a calendar of the whole that is
wantiiig in the farm; which method is ab-
foliitely rieceflary to follow with every
chapter, while we treat of fuch farms as
depend on the farmer for the total labour
of one man. If we fup'pofe him to hire
the whole^ we mull deducl: 24 /. from the
profit of all the preceding arable ones ; what
then will the remainder be ? However, it
is felf-evident that we muft, in fuch farms
as thefe, adhere to that fuppofition.
Offober. Ploughing 15 acres of wheat
land, - - days-) 15
Ditto of the laft year's Hubble, - 1 1
~]6
To hire.
Sowing the wheat, - .076
Water-furrowing, r o is o
r a
fW -iffj '* 2 6
November, Ploughing 4 acres of laft
year's ftubble, 4
Thfafhing IIT qrs. of wheat, J?3
p^r- 1*2
December. Thrafhing, 13 qrs. of wheat, 26
P 2 To
To hire. I s. d.
Thrafhing, 13 qrs. wheat, i 60
January. Ploughing the laft year's
ftubble a fecond time, days, 1 5
Water-furrowing ditto, 7
Sundry fmall articles of work, 5
To hire.
Thrafhing 40 qrs. of fpring /. s. d.
corn, 2 o o
February. Manuring, 20
Thrafhing, 14 qrs. of fpring corn, 7
27
To hire.
Thrafhirig, 6 qrs. fpring-
corn, - .060
50 Perches of ditching, 2100
.TWo_
March. Ploughing the fallow of beans, 15
Ditto, 1 1 of the laft year's bean-
land, for barley and oats, i r
"26
To hire.
Thrafhing 30 qrs. of beans, . i 10 o
Sowing 15 acres of beans, o 15 o
Carry over, .2 50
Water-
6
Brought over, . 2 50
Water-furrowing, ^t* ; > o 76
30 Perches of ditching, - I 10 o
~
April. Ploughing .15 acres of barley
and oats, //^d fcf*.**^ 1 days> 15
Water-furrowing ditto, 'j/* 7
Sundry fmall articles, 5
_27
To hire.
Sowing 15 acres of barley
and oats, - - - . o 39
Water-furrowing, ditto. o j 6
jC-0 'i 3
M^X. Ploughing between the rows of
the beans, / '*k> < - 8
Manuring^ ^** ,2/i.^dl- t < 18
26
To hire.
'Hand-hoeing the beans, . 3 15* o
June. Ploughing between the rows of
the beans - 8
Carting 4 acres of clover-hay, 6
Mowing and making ditto, :-." 7
Sundry fmall articles, - . -- _JT
PS
To hire.
Affiftance in carting 6 days, . o 76
Thiftling, or weeding 30
acres of corn, - - i 10 o
-l_I7J>
jfufy* Ploughing between the rows of
the beans, - - days, 8
Carting manure, and other work, 18
_26
Augujl. Carting 15 acres of wheat, 5
Ditto, 1 5 of barley and oats, 10
Ditto, 1 5 of beans, 8
Sundry fmall articles, - 3
M
To hire. I. s. d.
Reaping 15 acres of wheat, 3150
Ditto, of beans, - f'4 10 o
Mowing 15 of barley and
oats, i 26
Turning, harvefting, and
carting, 3 IQ o
i* *7 6
ber. Ploughing the bean-land,
and throwing it up for the
winter, ' * >> - 15
Carry over, 15
Carting
,( "5 )
Brought over, 15
Carting 1 5" acres of wheat-ftubble, - 5
Cartingj clover-hay, - ' - 7
To hire.
Mowing, making, and carting, the
clover-hay, - . o 15 o
Carting the wheat-ftubble, 050
Chopping ditto, - I 2 6
Sundry articles.
Thefe are all varied in the account,
being increafed in proportion to the bufi-
nefs and the fubftance of the farmer.
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. L s.
Rent, &c. - ^ .* 75 i q
Seed for 1 5 acres of wheat, - 9
Ditto for 15 of barley and oats,
Ditto 15 of beans,
Ditto for 9 of clover, -
Labour,
,
Sundries, ' * ; % *< -
( 216 )
Produce. I. s, d*
15 Acres of wheat, 60 o o
15 Of beans, * 45 o o-
104. Of barley, 31 10 o
8 COWS, - - - 40 O O
. 176 10 o
Expenees, -? - - 149 8 9
27 i ~3
Deduct the intereft of the flock, 14 60
Profit, - ^ 'JJL-L1 _ 1
This profit is but fmall,. confidering the
fize of the farm, and the completenefs of
the pulture ; but three horfes and fo much
labour is the explanation.
i ,.-, , -'-ILCi. . _,,
N^2 f
Variation the firft,
The fame all arable, the foil light enough
for turnips,
Stock.
Rent, &c. j -*"- -75 ia o
Implements, ^4 .6 6
^Vr^, - : ^ cd
3 Horfes, , - - /,. 36 oo
2 Cows, - - - 10 oo
Carry over, . 46 o~o 109 i8'6
^~
i Sow,
Brought over, JT. 46 o o 109 18 6
i Sow, - - - - i o o
30 Home bred heifers,
fleers or black cattle, 1 50 o o
-- 197 O
Seed and tillage,
Four earths on 15 acres
of wheat land, . 1 2 o o
Seed, ^; i-.' ,- - 900
Sowing, , - i; -v. ;-.--" o 76
Two earths on io~ acres s,f j
of barley land, 4 4 o
Seed, ^d-r- lc3j5k't -..5 50
Sowing, - - - o a 7^
One earth on 4! acres
of oat land, - 0180
Seed, iV*ff 25-0
Sowing, ,{'./"' ^ o i 14-
Seed for 15 acres of
clover, - -300
Sowing, - - 039
eed 1 5 acres of turnips, o 7 6
Carryover, . 344 13 o
Labour.
Brought over, . 344 13
This article I charge here as
in the laft chapter ; that
is, the fame as in the clay
farm, :^ - - 32 10 g
Sundry articles.
Thefe the fame as in the clay
farm, :*-.- ~ * 25 16 o
*'; -402 ijT~9
The reader perceives here that I aflign
the 15 acres of turnips to the fatting of
beafts : That number, with 7 acres of
clover-hay, will be fufficient for 30 of
them.
The ANNUAL ACCOUNT,
Expences. L s. d.
Rent, &c. 75 12 o
30 Beafts, - 150 o o
Seed for 15" acres of wheat, - 900
Ditto, for 1 5 acres of fpring-
corn> 77
Ditto for 1 5 of clover, - 300
Ditto for 15 of turnips, 076
Carryover, . 245 6 6
Labour,
( 2I 9 )
Brought over, 245 6 6
Labour, 3 2 IO 9
Shoeing, wear and tear, and
houfe-keeping, JLLJ^.
Pn?^#.
15 Acres of wheat, . 60 o o
joi Of barley, 3* i
7 Acres of clover feed ; 21 o o
30 Fat beads, 210 o o
2 Cows, io o Q
332 10 o
Expences, - - 2 _93__L3 3
.38" 16 9
Jntereft on the flock, 20 2 o
Profit, - - - . 1 8 14 9
This profit is much fuperior to that of
the clay farm. Some may, perhaps, ob-
ject to thefe eftimates of the turnip foil ;
that root is a precarious crop, being often
deftroyed by the fly, confequently that fo
large a produce mould not annually be
calculated ; But, in anfwer to this, I muft
remark that wheat, barley, oats, &c. &c.
and, in a word, all forts of crops, are pre-
carious; they are fubjecl: to blights, fmut,
being laid, the dolphin, &c. &c.j and tho*
2 turnips
( 220 )
turnips may be more infecure, yet, if I
was to think of reducing the chance of
failure to calculation in one cafe, I fhould
likewiie do it in another, which would be
an endlefs work, and but a jumble of con-
fufion at laft. Another point to be conii-
dered is the value of the crops I have Hated,
which I do not think exceeds the average
value of feveral years, all failures included :
For I fuppofe good hufbandry to be prac-
tifed on all, much tillage, good manuring
with the earth out of ditches, &c. and the
ameliorating crops, fuch as turnips and
beans, well hoed and ploughed; all thefe
particulars are fuperior to common manage-
ment.
N3-
Variation thefecond.
The fame> half arable and half graft, foil
light enough for turnips.
Stock. \ &VS. d.
Rent, &c. as before, ^j.; 75 12 o
Implements as before, 34 66
LiveJlocL
2 Horfes, - . 24 o o
a Cows, v-v>t 10 o o
Carry over, .34 o o 109 18 6
i Sow
)
Brought over, -34 IO 9 l8 6
i Sow, - - . x . *
40 Heifers, - , - I3O ; :O .o
12 Beafts, - 6 o o
*^-- . 215 o o
- 3*4: 'i3. 6
Seed and tillage.
Four earths, on 74 acres
of wheat-land, .6 o o
Seed, 4 IP o
Sowing, s?9 - -3 9
Two earths on 4^ acres
of barley-land, - i 16 o
Seed, <---> 2 5 ^
Sowing, y<fK>i i ?^J3 eOfict.- I Y
One earth on 3 acres
of oat-land, <<>&.! o 12 o
Seed, ^-- ' * * I0
Sowing,. 4^ %mi^i rburo 9
Seed for 7^ acres of
clover, Pf^j .#i 10 o
Sowing, - : a.nosir,i 9
Ditto of turnips, - A o? 39 '
Carryover, . 343
i t->M^
( 222 j
Brought over, .343 12 7
Labour.
I fuppofe the chief of the
work of this fariii to be
executed by the farmer
himfelf, - - - j 13 g
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, : -v .146
Wear and tear, - 300
Houfe-keeping, - 10 o o
Furniture, - 10 o o
- 4Btr - 24 4Q
373 9 4^
The article in this account which moft
wants explanation is the labour. We now
approach to that farm which can exadly
be managed by one pair of hands, without
the lofs of any time, and without hiring
any affiftance : Such a farm is a point on
which we mould fix our eye, as a guide to
undifcovered countries. I muft here ex-
plain in what manner a man can do moft
of the bufmefs of 60 .acres of land, half
grafs and half arable; and I mall do this
by fo proportioning the work, that we may,
at the fame time, fee how much more than
30
3O arable acres will come into the account.-
Were I fcrupuloufly to adhere to the terms of
my enquiry, I mould rejecl: all affiftance ;
but thefe meets are drawn up for ufe, not
curiofity. It might be an entertaining dif-
quifition, to fearch for the minutely accu-
rate proportions of one pair of hands, but
it never would be profitable in practice
to adhere to fuch accuracy : There are
many times in the year, when it is much
more beneficial, even for a very little far-
mer, to hire affiftance than to do all his
work himfelf. I mall therefore, in this
inquiry, adhere, not to terms, but to a
practical utility : I fuppofe the farmer him-
felf to perform the bulk of his work, fuch
as ploughing, thraming, hand -hoeing,
feeding of cattle, &c. It belongs to
a future chapter, to difcover the moft pro-
fitable farm that can be hired by a
man, who will always keep himfelf em-
ployed on that work which moft requires
him.
The two kinds of arable farms hitherto
chiefly confidered, are the clay, and the
foil light enough for turnips. In the firft,
the fallow is beans, in rows on 3 plough-
ings,
ings, and in the fecond turnips on 6,
Now, to fave the repetition of inferting two
calendars of work, we muft difcovcr the
proportion of the labour between thefe fal-
low crops. We will flate the account of
one acre.
Beans.
Three ploughings, 3 days /. s. d.
at i s. - - 030
Sowing i day *, - - o i o
Water-furrowing, 7 a day, -006
Ploughing, between the
rows, 3 times, 2 acres in
"" a day, - - o i 6
Once hand-hoeing, - -060
Reaping, - - 060
Harvefting, (2 men 2 acres
a day) - - - 020
Thrafhing 2 qrs. at I s. - - o g o
1 2 o
Barley, on this land, fown on the third
ploughing.
* It does not take up the whole, but by fo much the
beft part, that the reft (as in ploughing) is of little value.
Turnips
{ 225 )
^urnifs. L s. d.
6 Ploughings, - 060
2 Harrowings, - - 002
Sowing, - - - o o 3
Two hoeings, - - 076
Carting them from the field to
the farm-yard. This article
muft not be calculated for
one acre ; the beft way of
coming to the truth is, to
fuppofe that a man, with
2 horfes and a cart, will fully
attend a given number of
teafts ; that is, bring the
turnips from the field, and
throw them into the cribs
or bings, and have an eye to
the cattle every now and
then, to fee that all goes
well among them, and like-
wife take care of the two
horfes. I apprehend a man
might eafily manage from
30 to 40 beafls in this man-
Carry over, . o 13 ii
VOL. I. O ner j
Brought over, . o 13 XI
iler ; fuppofe^ or 1 7 * acres,
ahd that they took the
months of November, De-
cember, January, and Fe-
bruary, and half of March*
to fat in, or 19 weeks; that
is, 5 /. 14 s. or per acre, o 7 o
Expence of fehe beafts* * j W 2 o
of the turnips, - r o 1 1
Excefs of the former, . o i i
Now this difference fe fo trifling, that it
is not worth- making a diftinclion between-
thefe methods of fallowing. And it is,
ait the fame time, a con-firm ation of the
fuppofition I made in a preceding chapter,
when I wrote the fame amount of labour to-
the light land farm, as to the clay one.
As it therefore appears, that no diftinc-
tion, in this eftimate of one man's labour,
is to be made between the light and heavy
foils, I mail proceed to the particulars, fup-
pofmg it a" clay farm. I fhall begin the
work after harveft as before. Suppofe the
quantity 30 acres.
* The reader muft not forget that we are confidering
fmall farms ; consequently, the field near the farm yard.
Oftober.
( 227 )
Oftober. Ploughing 77 acres of wheat
land, - day*) yt
Ditto, 10 of laft year's ftubble, 7t
Sowing the wheat, 3
Small articles of work, - 2
Thrafhing, 3 qrs. of wheat, 7
2 J_
November : Water-furrowing, - 1 1
Thrafhing 8 qrs. of wheat, 16
27
December. 1 1 Perches of ditching, 1 1
Thrafhing 77 qrs. of wheat, - 15
"26
'January. Manuring, - 10
Ploughing the laft year's ftubble, a
fecond time, - - 7
Water-furrowing, 5
Sundry fmall articles, r . r?' 4.
76
February. Thrafhing 45* qrs. of fpring
corn, ::ii* - Sr;* ; - 22
5 Perches of ditching, - 5
H
March. Third ploughing of the fal-
low, __7
Carry over, 7
i Third
( 228 )
Brought over, days^ 7
Third ploughing the bean land for
barley and oats, - 7
Water-furrowing, - -& 5
Sowing the beans, - 7
Jr
April. Ploughing the barley and oat-
land* - 7
Water-furrowing, 3
Sowing, - - 2
9 Perches of ditching, - 9
Manuring, - ^ Wrl - 3
_4
May. Ploughing between the rows of
the beans, - - - 4
Hand-hoeing ditta, 74 acres, - 23
j2
j^. Ploughing between the rows of
the beans, ;.*;- - - 4
Carting 2 acres of clover -hay, 3
Mowing and making ditto, - 4
Thiftling 15 acres of corn, *>*> v . 15
AiTiflance in carting the
clover hay, - . o 46
"
. Ploughing between the rows of
the beans, - - days, 4
Sundry articles, manuring, &c. 22
"76
jt. Carting, 7 4- acres of wheat, 3
Ditto, 77 of barley and oats, - 5
Ditto 7t of beaus, 4
Reaping 77 acres of wheat, - jj
70
Reaping 77 acres of beans, ".2 50
Mowing 77 of beans and oats, 0113
Harvefting, r vjtf v/l 2 50
September. Ploughing the bean-land,
throwing it up for the winter, 7
Carting clover-hay, - - 3
Ditto 74. acres of wheat ftubble, 3
Mowing and making the clover, 5
Chopping the ftubble, ^ ' 9
~~27
To hire.
Affiftance in carting, . ,p 70
From
From hence it appears, that a man may
with the afliftance of 5 /. 1 2 s. 9 d. laid out
in labour, cultivate 30 acres of .arable land,
the whole cropped either with beans,
wheat, clover, and barley, or with turnips,
barley, clover, and wheat,
The annual expence of this farm*
Expences. I. s. d.
Rent, &c. - - 75 J2 o
40 Heifers, - *%"** 120 o
12 Beafts, -!V ;> - tf5aj 60 o 6
Seed for 74- acres of wheat, - 4 10 o
Ditto for 7^- of barley and oats, 3 15 d
Ditto for 74. of clover, - i 10 o
Ditto for 74 of turnips, * Q 3 9
Labour, *. -,- \^ $ 12 9
Sundry articles, V^,, r J 4 4
~
Produce.
74- Acres of wheat, <- . 30 o o
44. Of barley, f,^,/] ^ > 13 jo o
2 Of clover-feed, * -r 600
2 Gows, - ^ - 10 o o
40 Fat heifers, * J?oo o o
12 Ditto beafts, ^ 84 o o
10 o
Produce, ' -'^TJV rM**\ . 343 10 o
Expenses, .r * z 285 7 6
58 2 6
Deduft the iatereft of the ftock, 1813 o
Profit, - ,~- . 39 9 6
We find, upon coming to a tolerable
proportion in the point of labour, that the
profit is increafed confiderably ; and this
will be further illuftrated in fucceeding
Chapters.
N 4 .
Variation the third*
fhefame* all grafs y the foil clay or loam.
Stock.
Rent of 60 acres, at
I /. 3,5. ' ^'' .66 O O
Tythe, at 4 s. ,]*'' 13 40
Rates, &c. &c. 4 s. 13 40
-' - - Q2 8 o
/ r i?ijfn ?' 1 '>"?:-*! #t ; $iJ$ >ii^<ffig?>fi / >E
Implements.
Dairy furniture, , i 10 o
Sundry fmall articles, i o o
- : -- 2 10 O
Carryover, -94 *$
Brought over, .94 18 o
Llvejlock.
1 Horfe, - 10 o o
2 Cows, - Jo o o
i Sow, - o 15 o
75 Home-bred hei-
fers, - 225 oo
245 15 o
^, Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, - i o O
Houfe-keeping, - 10 o o
Additions to furniture, i o oo
sV' " 21 O O
36i 13 o
When the ftock of only one farm is
flated, it is very eafy to be confident ; but
in drawing up that of a progreffive num-
ber, it is extremely difficult to keep pro-
portion conftantly in one*s eye. I have
charged this farm with a horfe, although
it is all grafs, and none of it to be mown ;
but, in fuch farms, many of the farmers
will undoubtedly keep a riding horfe; and
though not 'abfolutely neceflary before,
yet, as it is an addition which muft be
made fbmewhere, it will come in here
with
with the greateft propriety ; as expenccs
of that and other forts muft be fuppofed to
hold a proportion to the fubftance of the
man. And yet there is no doubt but he
might walk to the fairs, as well as ride to
them : and I profefs not to guide myfelf
(among little farmers) by what is, but by
what ought to be ; yet one cannot carry on
a rigid adherence, even to one's own rules,
without wounding the common practice too
much.
And here it may not be amifs further to
remark that I eftimate the article of cloaths,
houfe-keeping, pocket-money, &c. as low
as the mere neceffity, for a very material
reafon : fo much, is a part of the neceflary
expences of the farm, like wear and tear*
&c. &c. but if I was to calculate it in a
varying manner, to hit off the real ex-
pences of farmers, I mould have no rule
by which to conduft myfelf, and my efti-
mates would be at beft but ufelefs. I there-
fore ftate the neceflary fum; and the reft
muft come out of the profit, in the dirpo-
fition of which I do not concern myfelf: It
is either fpent in family expences, in pri-
vate ones, in improvements of the farm,
or
( 534 )
or lent at intereft. I (hall, in a chapter
by itfelf, confider the confequences of ex-
pending it, or a part, at leaft, in improve-
ments. ' The reader muft excufe my
going fo often out of my way, to explain
and anfwer objections : It is a difagreeable
tafk, but often times a necefiary one.
*-'-*\ \I"1-3 J3**3 'iiiO JO*^ ' 4 . ..
The ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Vxpcnct*. L s. d.
Rent, &c. - . - V." 92/8 o
75 Home-bred heifers, - 225 o o
Shoeing, wear and tear, and ,
houfe-keeping, -^.' - n o o
Produce,
\iujj uiAfc im+t. jig!! nn . .I iu .
2 Cows, iA-^or dAW^I lab? IO
75 Fat heifers, .uimft ^ j 375
385 o o
Expences, - ^.^328 8.0
, I - --
56 12 O
Dedud the intereft of the flock, 18 i o
Profit, i -Wi - - . 38 1 1 o
335
ci Variation the fourth.
Seventy acres all graft, foilcky w $oar&
Stock.
Rent, &c.
Kent,' -of 70 acres, at /. *
o
Tythe, at**. - 15 8
ates,c.&c.&c.4*.i5 8
- 107 jo o
Implements as before, ,. * -_ 2100
Live Jlock.
1 Horfe, .10 op
2 Cows, - ,.jo o o
I Sow, - , ^- ,,^8-^W-
87 Home-bred hei-
fers, ^^Vi 1 -^ 1
' \ - . - , - 281 15 o
Sundry articles as before, j 21 o o
-4*3 i o
ACCOUNT*
o Expencrs.
JSlent, &c. . 107 16 o
187 Heifers, 261 o o
Sundry articks, ^T n- ^ o
379 l6
Produce.
Produce. L s. d.
2 Cows, - - **<V 10 o o
87 Fat heifers, - - 435 o o
445
Expences, - - 379 16 o
65 4 o
Interefi of the ftock, - - 20 13 o
Profit, - y - . 44 u o
This increafe of profit, on adding only
10 acres of land, and beyond the propor-
tion of the fum employed, fhews how im-
portant it is to proportion thefe things with
{kill.
Variation theffth,
Fifty acres, all arable, the foil clay or
and laid down to graft.
Stock.
Rent, <&c.
Rent of 50 acres, at
i/.' - - . 50 o o
Tythe, at4^. - 10 o o
Rates, &c. &c. at 4 s. 10 o o
-- 70 9
Carry over, .70 o o
:*v
( 237 )
Brought over, jf .' 70 o o
Implements.
% Carts, - . 16 o o
A plough, - i II 6
Harrows, - - 2 o o
Roller, - - i 10 o
Harnefs for 2 horfes, 2 10 o
Screen, bulhel, fans,
&c. &c. - 200
Sacks, - - i 10 o
Dairy furniture, - - | o o
28 i 6
LiveJIock.
2 Horfes, - . 24 o o
2 Cows, - - 10 o o
i Sow, - - o 15 o
34 15 o
Seed and Tillage.
Four earths on 1 2 1 acres
of wheat land, - 10 o o
Seed, - - 7 10 o
Sowing, - -060
Water-furrowing, o 12 6
Two earths on 9 acres
of barley land, - 3 12 o
Carry over, .22 06 132 16 6
Seed,
( 23* )
c Brought over, . 22 o 6 132 16 6
Seed, - - - 4 10 o
Sowing, - -023
Water- furrowing, 046
One earth on 3^ acres
of oat land, : HE o 14 o
Seed, -; - * i i o
Seed for 5 acres of
clover, and fowing, i I 3 .
Sowing, - -' o o lol-
Water-furrowing, -019
30 10 Lj
Labour.
This article I calculate to be
nearly the fame as in N i^
Chap, xviii. on the fame
quantity of land : but as
beans were there made
the fallow, a deduction
muft be allowed: 23 /.
3 s. 44. d. was the fum ;
I therefore write, - . 20 o o
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, cr <i - 4 10 o
Carryover, . 4 IQ o 183 6 74.
Houfe-
( 339 )
Brought over, -4 io o 183
Houfe-keeping, 10 o o
Furniture, - 10 o o
. 207 16
The firft year's crops are 12 4- acres of
wheat j I2.J- of barley and oats, and 2
fallow. The produce this year is
I2T Acres of wheat, - .. 50 o o
9 Of barley, - - 27 o o
2 Cows, - - - io o o
The fecond year the crops will be 25
acres of fpring corn with grafles, 5 acres
of clover, till harveft, when it will be fal-
lowed with the reft, and 20 acres of fallow.
The account will be as follows :
f,
Expences.
Rent, &c. - -- - . 70 o o
Seed for 25 acres of fpring-
corn, - - 12' io o
Ditto grafles, > - 25 o o
Labour, - - - 20 o o
Sundry articles, - - 14 io o
. 142 o o
Produce.
(( -240 )
Produce.
21! Acres of barley, - .64. 10 o
2 Cows, - - ! * 10 o o
74 io Q
Expences, - -142 o o
Produce, ^-^ 74 i o
67 io o
Interefl of the ftock, 13 2 d
"~
The third year the crops are 25 acres of
fpring corn with grafles, and 25 acres of
grafs, new laid. The account,
Expences.
Rent, &c. - 70 o o
Seed for 25 acres of fpring
corn,. - - 12 io o
Ditto graffes, - 25 o o
Labour as before, . 20 O O
Add for additional help
in hay-time, - 3 *o
- 23 io o
Sundry articles, >* ; - I 4 io o
io o
Produce.
( 241 )
Produce. L S* <?.
2 if Acres of barley, - 64 10 o
25 Loads of hay at the ftack, 37 10 o
2 Cows, - io o o
T. i j 2 o o
Expences, - 145 19 o
Produce, - 112 o o
33 I0
Intereft of flock, - - 16 13 o
Lofs, - - .50 30
The fourth year it will all be grafs, half
mown for hay, and half fed with heifers
The account as follows :
Expences. /. s. d.
Rent, &c. - - 70 o d
Labour in hay time, * . - 3 io o
Shoeing, and wear and tear, - 1150
Houfe-keeping, - - io o o
30 Heifers, - - 90 o d
Produce.
2j* Loads of hay, - . 37 io o
2 Cows, - - id d d
$d Fat heifers, - 150 d d
Carry over, . 197 io d
VOL. I. R Sale
Brought over, . 197 10 O
Sale of Implements and an
horfe: They cofl, 38 /.
i s. 6 d. - - 20 o o
. 217 10 o
Expences, 175 5
42 5 o
Intereft of flock, - 16 16 o
Profit, - . 25 90
The fifth year it will be fed ; and every
fucceeding year the fame.
Expences. I. s. d-
Rent, &c. - 70 o o
Shoeing, - - ^-iS o if? o
Houfe-keeping, - - 10 o o
Carts and horfes for ditch fluff, 500
60 Heifers, - - :,->;.; 180 o o
. 265 12 Q
Produce.
60 Fat heifers, - . 300 o o
2 Cows, - - - 10 o o
310 o o
Expences, * "- ? ; 265 12 Q
Interefl,
Profit,
( 243 )
General account ofjlocL
Hrft ftock, . 207 16 7$
Produce of the firfl year, in-
ferior to the expences of
the fecond, - - 5^ o" 6
Produce of the fecond year,
inferior to the expences
of the third, - 71 o d
Produce of the third year in-
ferior to the expences of
the fourth, - 63 5 o
Produce of the fourth year
inferior to the expences
of the fifth, && 48 2 o
- 445 3 74-
Which total is the fum requifite for this
farm.
RECAPITULATION*
N i. Sixty acres all arable*
the foil clay, or loam,
yields an annual profit of . 12 15 3
a. The fame, all arable, the
foil light enough for tur-
nips, ditto, - - ^ 1 8 14 9
R * 3. The
N3- The fame; half arable
and half grafs, the foil
light enough for turnips,
ditto, .39 96
4. The fame, all grafs, the
foilcky or loam, ditto, -38 II o
5. Seventy acres, all grafs :
the foil clay, - - . 44 1 1 o
6. Fifty acres all arable, the
foil clay, and laid down to
grafs, .22 30
Next, we muft bring into one view the
fums requifite to flock thefe farms. They
are as follow :
Ni. -^1">' - .286 ii o
2. \-. 402 19 9
3- - - 373 9-4r
4 361 *3
5- - "A 1 4 r 3 I
& f; f- 1 445 3 74-
To profit by thefe particulars we muft,
in the next place, view the produce of
thefe fums, and the rate per cent, of the
profit.
Farms*
( 245 )
Farms.
Produce.
Per. cent.
proft.
N (
? i.
*?
i
3
.9
9
/"'
2.
- 38
16
9
9
12
3-
58
2
6
15
II
4-
56
12
o
15
5 O
5-
65
4
o
15
15
6.
- 44
8
o
9
19 o
From thefe tables it appears, Jirft^ that
the beft way of difpofmg of any fum of
money from 373 /. to 413 /. is by hiring
either a farm of 60 acres, half grafs and
half arable, the foil light enough for tur-
nips; or one of 60 acres, a ftiff foil and
all grafs ; or, laftly, one of 70 acres, all
grafs ; thefe three farms paying a better
intereft than any of the reft. But there is
this difference between them, that the two
laft require fcarce any work, a man being
at liberty, notwithftanding his farm, to apply
to many other forts of bufmefs, and make
advantage thereof. Of thefe, therefore,
the grafs farms are the beft.
Secondly, The other three farms, viz.
60 acres, all arable, heavy foil 60
acres all arable, light foil and 50
acres, all arable, but laid to grafs, are
nearly upon an equality in their profit.
R 3 We
We may, therefore, pronounce the laft of
the three, or the grazing one, to be much
the beft ; as that takes up fcarce any of the
farmer's time, but leaves him for other
profitable avocations; whereas the two
arable ones demand not only all his time,
but alfo continual hard labour.
CHAP. XX.
Of the difference between gentlemen and
common farmers, in hiring and flocking
farms.
WE are now come to fuch a fum of
money as requires an equal atten-
tion to the gentleman and the farmer. In
a former chapter, I hinted that a divifion
of the fubjecT:, for this purpofe, would
create fuch a multiplicity of fubdivifions,
as to throw the whole in that confufion
which often arifes from an excefs of me-
thod. The plained way of treating this
double fubjecT: will be to ftate, in each
chapter, firft, the calculations for the
common farmer, and then fuch variations
as arife between him and the gentleman ;
and
( 247 )
and alfo fuch eftimates as are peculiar to
the latter.
In the execution of this defign, I fhall
take no notice of farming for mere conve-
nience, pleafure, or curiofity; however
entertaining, or even ufeful fuch prac-
tices may be, there are no permanent con-
clufions to be drawn from eftimates and
calculations of matters guided by fancy and
caprice. I fhall hereafter confider the point
of experimental farms.
But the chief purport of this chapter is,
to give my reafons for making any diftinc-
tion at all between gentlemen and common
farmers, in hufbandry, for profit.
It is my aim, in thefe fheets, to ftate
all circumftances as near to the truth as
poflible. I have, in the preceding chapters,
made a multitude of variations not only
according to the foil and number of acres^
but to the wealth and fubftance of the far-
mer; becaufe fuch caufes are attended in
the general with correfponding effects ; and,
to carry on a calculation upon the fame
principles, for a poor as a rich man, would
be evidently abfurd. I have, in every article,
Sketched the profit which fuch a farmer as
P 4 I de-
I clefcribe in it may make, if he acts con-
fiftently with his fituation, and as a good
hufbandman. When I fuppofe him to work
hard all the year, he may, it is true, be idle
half his time, but fuch variations are rather
thofe of reality from my calculations, than
of my calculatiqns from reality, I ftate
what he ought to do, and what he muft do,
if he would grow rich ; his not doing it is
his fault, not my error. It would be abfurd
to form variations to particular, and thofe
vicious, exceptions.
Now if I was to calculate for the gentle-
man and the farmer upon the fame prin-
ciples, it would be acting contrary to all
thefe ideas ; for, in fome inftances, I fhould
ftate a profit impoffible for a gentleman to
arrive at ; and, in others, fuch a balance as
not one farmer in a thoufand would ever fee
at the bottom of his accounts.
Gentlemen and farmers have, in huf-
bandry, peculiar advantages and difadvan-
tages, which muft never be confounded, if
we would preferve a clear and accurate
idea of the whole fubject.
Before I endeavour to ftate thefe diftinc-
tions, it will be necefTary juft to explain
my
( 249 )
my expreffion, gentlemen farming for pro-
ft.
There are few in whom it is a real pro-
feflion, bufmefs, and dependence: I wifh
there were more ; as I am confident their
talents would be applied to as ufeful a pur-
pofe to mankind in general, and to their
country in particular, as if exerted in com-
merce, as if destroying the human fpecies
in phyfic, tything it in divinity, or ruin-
ing it in law. But there are many who
live in the country upon fmall fortunes,
that engage in hufbandry with a view to
improving their incomes ; others, that have
been educated to profeffions they difliked,
rather than lead an idle life, fettle in the
country, and apply to farming. In any
cafe, however, there is no difference be-
tween their taking a portion of their own
eftates into their hands, or hiring part of
their neighbours: In one, they bargain
with another man ; in the other, they fettle
accounts with themfelves : And here I muft
fuppofe the latter as true to reality, and as fair
an engagement, as the former ; and admit
none of thofe defpicable deceptions, too
.often met with, of rating the land at its
laft
laft rent, or any but fuch as it would ab-
folutely bring between men of fenfe and
underftanding. I have heard of many
boafts of profit, when the rent allowed for
the land is not above two thirds, perhaps,
of what a neighbouring farmer would give
for it.
But, whatever the motive may be for a
gentleman's farming, it is certain that a
diftinction muft be made between their
profit and that of common farmers ; and
this for divers reafons.
In fmall farms we find the profit de-
cided by the labour of the farmer ; and no
wonder, fmce 25 /. a year is the intereft of
500 /. fo that a farmer may eafily beat a
gentleman on a fmall farm ace and deuce, as
the value of his labour may be more than
the whole fum employed by the gentleman.
And we mould remember, that there are
few little farmers but what work more or
lefs themfelves. In the preceding calcu-
lations, if the reader turns to any of the
arable farms, and deduds from the profit
the value of a man's labour, he will find
but a fcanty remainder ; in many of them,
none at all.
Now
Now if a little farmer, with all poffible
induftry, finds it a matter of vaft difficulty
to make any thing by his bufinefs (inde-
pendent I mean of his labour), how much
more difficulty will a gentleman find it, if
he farms with no fuperior advantages ?
Here, I muft own, I feel a croud of
ideas, all unfufceptible of calculation, and
which will, on that account, puzzle me
extremely in the enfuing chapters.
A farmer's labour is in part reducible to
eftimate, and in part not. He goes out to
plough, in a little farm that keeps a pair
of horfes, ftirs his acre of land, and comes
home : this labour we may value pretty
tolerably, becaufe the time is much the
fame as that of a labourer. But he is mafter
of four horfes and 2 ploughs ; confequently
a man works with him : here, at once*
the affair is changed ; and his labour is in
part unfufceptible of eftimate. He not only
ploughs his own acre, but fees that his man
,does the fame; and if the horfes of the
latter move quicker than his own, fo that
his acre (we will fuppofe) is done the fooneft,
the farmer fees and remedies it ; he finds,
at once, that his man has fkimmed the fur-
face,
).
face, inftead of ploughing it; he gently
rebukes him at firft, but takes efpecial care,
that the abufe is not repeated. He is
ploughing in feed- time, or in any other
bufy feafon ; the weather is precari-
ous ; clover to be fown ; harrowing to
be done only while the land is dry, and rain
expe&ed; or, in a word, a thouiand
circumflances of the fame fort. He thinks
it a great benefit to plough an acre ;
IT is DONE. Why mould the man, or
labourer at plough with him, objed to it ?
If they are not employed at that work, they
will upon fome other, and perhaps a more
laborious one ; they are not afraid of a want
of time to take care of their horfes ; the far-
mer does that work all himfelf. In a word,
his only confideration is his horfes ; if he
overworks them, he feeds them in propor-
tion, and fo the matter ends.
Now, pafs the hedge of this farm, and
enter that of a gentleman, who thinks,
like the farmer, that as the feafon is fine
he mould make good ufe of it, and get his
barley-feed into the ground as faft as pof-
fible; he therefore allows his horfes each
two pecks of corn more in a week, and
2, better
( 253 )
better chaff : Will his work be done ?
Not it. He does not take care of his own
horfes, but his man, labourer, horfe-keeper
or what not, who will take, he may be af-
fured, plenty of time to attend the horfes ;
which is but a matter of idlenefs, and gof-
fopping in the flable. He will be told, that
the cuftom of the country is to plough but
an acre a day : that that quantity is done ;
that there would not be time fufficient to
take care of the horfes, if more was done :
that Bald wants a fhoe that the chaff
muft be got home from the barn that the
hay is done and, in fhort, a million of
trivial excufes mere evafions, but which
will be too powerful for him to conquer,
manage as he pleafes.
In harveft or hay-time, a farmer who
drives his own horfes will clear twice the
ground that a gentleman's fervant will do.
In carting dung, clay, marie, &c. &c.
let the gentleman and the farmer compare
notes ; whofe tally will have the moft
notches ? It is filled perhaps by the load ;
the farmer drives away his : the gentle-
man is purfuing a fox ; or reading by his
fire-
fire- fide ; whofe loads will contain the
faireft meafure ?
Bad weather comes, too wet to employ
the horfes : let the gentleman remark what
fort of a day's work he has on fuch occa-
iions out of his horfe-keeper.
Perhaps the farm is fituated within reach
of town-dung ; the weather is too wet to
plough; the farmer harneffes his horfes,
and goes for a load of manure. What does
the gentleman's horfes ?
Some hay or ftraw is bought; the di-
ftance will admit of going about twice a
day, v with tolerable diligence: We well
know what the farmer will do : Can you
fay the fame of the gentleman ?
After the horfes are taken care of, fome
cattle require being looked to let to
water &c. &c. &c. The farmer cer-
tainly will not neglect fuch a bufmefs.
The gentleman's man is abfent : where
is he ? no body knows. He appears.
" Well and where have you been?"
" At the blackfmith's, Sir, with this
" plough-ihare!"
At the end of the year, the gentleman
and the farmer review their accounts ; the
firft
firft finds a farrier's bill as long as his Lon-
don taylor's. The other has been his
own phyfician. The firft is furprifed at
his neighbour's luck ; but, without being
accufed of enchantment, he might conclude
his anfwer, as the Roman farmer did, meas
vigilias et fudores. But the fweat of the
fervant was probably employed more in
abufing than curing his mailer's horfes.
It would be endlefs to multiply inftances ;
in one word, the contrail holds through all
the work of a farm. If we could reduce it
exactly to calculation, what a vail difference
$er cent, in profit would appear !
But although we cannot reduce the whole
of thefe matters to calculation, let us attempt
a few of them, upon probable fuppofitions :
if the reader rejects the data upon which I
build my eilimates, it is but his paffing
over a page or two, and he will be never
the worfe for it.
Let us fuppofe a farm to employ 4 horfes,
which are kept conftantly at work. This
is no improbability, for I had fix horfes,
which in three years never were abfolutely
idle three days, except Sundays.
Suppofe
Suppofe the difference in ploughing be-
tween the farmer's plough and the gentle-
man's to be a quarter of an acre in a day ;
this I am confident is not below the mark,
if we take into the account extraordinary
times, when the farmer does greatly more
than the gentleman, and alfo the difference
of the ploughing ; for the gentleman, moft
certainly, will not have his land ploughed
fo well as the farmer, if he has near the
fame quantity done. Many gentlemen are
much more folicitous for deep ploughing
than farmers, but then they afluredly fufFer
proportionably in quantity. Upon the
whole, there can be no doubt but that a
farmer who ploughs with his men will
have one fourth more done, either in quan-
tity or quality, than the gentleman. Now
this, upon one article, is a difference 25 per
cent.
In carting dung, clay, marie, compofts>
&c. there can be no doubt but the farmer?
driving his own team, and paying his la-
bourers by the fcore, that he may not wait
for them, will carry 6 loads in 20 more than
the gentleman; and if leaving work in
flight rains, or for other unneceflary occa-
( =57 )
fions, and alfo the difference of meafure,
that is of feeing every cart fairly filled, I
have no doubt but the whole difference
amounts to 7 in 20.
Again, in hay-time and harveft, the
farmer driving his own team will forward
all the carting-work fo much, that I think
little difpute will be made of his clearing
30 acres as foon as the gentleman does so.
In all carting, where it is a point whether
the waggon goes once or twice a-day, the
difference between the farmer and the
gentleman is juft 50 per cent.
The numerous" fmall articles of work
done at home, fuch as carting ftubble,
wood, herdles, turnips, ftraw, hay, (in
winter) &c. &c. will be all infinitely in fa-
vour of the farmer; and, for a very plain
reafon, he will croud, them together, and
make out a complete day's work; whereas
the gentleman's fervants will divide them
yet more, to have -the more broken idle
loitering days. I rate this article at 70
per cent.
Thus we find the difference between the
gentleman's horfes and the farmer's, in thefe
few articles of work, to be very great. In
VOL. I. S ploughing,
( =58 )
ploughing, 25 per cent.\ in carting ma-
nure, 35 per cent.; in carting in hay-time
and harveft, 66 per cent.\ in carting, whe-
ther one or two journeys a^day, $vper cent.\
in fundry fmall articles, 70 per cent.
The three firft of thefe articles include
the principal work of the year ; but I will
take the laft into the account, as it is not fo
high as one of the reft. The average of
thefe rates is 44. per cent. But then the
proportion of the quantity of each work
is not taken into the account.
1 . Suppofe hay and harveil to employ
the horfes , Ifo ~ ~ Weeks, 6
2. Carting, (whether one or two jour-
neys a-day) - - - - 2
3. Such articles as the gentleman is
in refpecT: of time on an equality
with the farmer, fuch as carrying
corn to a diftance, and a few others, 3
4. Sundry fmall articles at home of
carting, ^jfy , - . ^c: - 4
.5. Carting manure, 5
6. Ploughing, harrowing, rolling, &c.
that are in the fame proportion as
ploughing, - 32
li
N i.
( W
N Q I. is ^tlis.
/?n ; -' ! '' ' v '"' '
2. is a soth.
V -] T ,V.,CI
3. is a lAth.
' ' T, ' :ir ' 1 I::I
-wjfelJJ V,*#fv,bflu aL^nooBriw VI-
5. is a isthandyVa. r
":. p Smoa/sE h8IflJl* fT'f^l
6. is ^ths.
M/i'iit *~^/it M r *** * "^ fri rrr**i Pi*'! *MtL i* * \*
Now to bring thefe matters to a decifive
.i'-f/Qi.fll ' ii'"" r ''l^U'i r ~'' Oil' I
point, we muft calculate tlie expence 'of 4
horfes, and the labour attending them. Two
men muft, in nineteen inftances cut of
twenty, be absolutely engaged; and in
numerous ones, fuch as feed-time, manur-
ing, | harveft, &c. three, four, five and even
fix men. However, to avoid any 'impu-
tation of partiality, I will fuppofe the
labour of only three men to be guided in
their work by the horfes *. As both the
gentleman and farmer has the option of
either fervants or labourers, we will fuppofe
the former, and value j their wages, board,
warning and lodging, at 20 /. a year each ;
the total of this article, therefore, is 60 /.
The expence of horfes is various, rifing
from 5 /. a year to 1 5 /. but as there are
* There are many inftances where only 2 men are kept
to 4 horfes, but I fuppofe the horfes [no* as in common]
to be affigned to a proper quantity of land.
S 2 not
( 20*0 )
not many farmers fo high as the latter fum,
I will fuppofe it 10 I. which (confidering
the great breadth of land afligned them in
my calculations) is under rather than over
the mark : Four, at this rate, come to 40 /.
total loo /. This fum divided in the above
proportions, will appear as follows.
xn> r
jrtff, "^ !?;
*' " V ^'ri fi: 5 J *
4- - - 7 13 I0
,
biovfi 1 ^
Profit, - . - . IPO o IT
The ele\ r en- pence is a fraction, but the
error too flight to be worthy of remark.
The difference per cent, of the work, as
before laid down, will be as follows.
N i. - . 10 ii o
66 $er cent, on it. 6 19 3
17 10 3
2. - .3 10 4
50 per cent. - i 15" 2
Equality,
Carry over, ^9
Brou
70 per cent.
* '-ff <
' '.'"
5S "fercent.
I'.', 1 ". .;'".. /> t6
ght over,
7 !f3
5 7
9 I2
3 7
.
8
3
3
29
13
^ia
18 7
,'V-"*
'1 'M0"i">
19 6
6. ir.J -jfiBfl
* j
r.6i
IO
8
'.lit
, ^rrr'^ rr J
25 per cent\
15
B&jl
8
fbii
ir>> f
>jh
llvtffff (^ OJ 'w^lb*
7 6
18
4
Total, and the average diffe-
rence, 32 /. 17 J./>r cent.. 132 17 n
That there is this difference between the
work of four horfes in a farmer's hands,
who drives them himfelf, and a gentle-
man's, I am well convinced; but if we
confider the vaft importance of catching
feafons, particularly in feed-time, harveft,
and hay-time, any one muft be fenfible that
the difference of gain and lofs is prodigious,
and beyond the power of calculation.
Whole crops, in a manner, depend on it :
How often do we fee no other (liftindion
in thofe of fpring-corn, but the fields fown
late or early; a point often fufficient to
S 3 balance
- gi Ot * "-ayo kJvov r
balance every other *, and in which the
farmer has all the chances on his fide.
And thefe confiderations are fo very impor-
tant, that they fhould influence us to in*,
creafe the difference, were I not fearful of
lanching too far into ideal eftimates. Nor
have I taken into the account the difference
the farrier makes .in it, nor fome other
articles that would, if reduced to fo much
per cent, run it up much higher,
I fhould obferve, that the proportion be-
tween the farmer a,nd the gentleman is the
great thing in this calculation; for that
holds equally good whether horfes coft /,
a year or io/.; or whether the expence
of a fervant be 2O /. or 30 /. In this refpecl:
the above fuppofed 100 /. is a mere imagi-r
nary fum; an algebraic fign, identically
nothing hut the means of drawing forth,
the proportion, In feveral parts of the
kingdom with which I am acquainted, it
;s pretty near the truth ; it was therefore
* We do not, however, think with thex)Id proverb of
the Roman farmers , <vetus eft agricolarum pro-~verbium na-
ixram fationem Jape dtctpert fokre, feram. nunquam. $u:n
mulajt, but the very contrary,
as well to ufe it as one more imaginary
Here then we find a fmgle branch .of
bufmefs, in which the farmer, who drives-
his own team, is fuperior to the gentleman
above 32 per cent. Now if there were no
other points in which- they varied, would
it not alone be a juftification for my not
confidering them in the fame light? But
there are other points, not to be over-
looked.
The labour of a Farm is performed by
either fervants or day-men ; in this cafe it
matters not by which. I mould be glad to
know, who is moil likely to have a good
day's work done by his men, (befides the
three employed directly with the team, and
before calculated) the farmer or the gentle-
man ? Or, in other words, which is among
them moft, the farmer who drives his
horfes in all their work, or the. gentle-
man ?
Much work is done by the piece; who
will get it cheapeft ?
It is a fad, and I believe every where
indifputable, that labourers will work
S 4 cheaper
cheaper for common farmers than for gen-
tlemen ; and much of this is obfervable in
day-work, even where the prices are more
fettled than they can be in piece-work.
Suppofe, in day-work, either by work-
ing harder or fairer hours, the farmer gets
but one hour's labour in a day more than a
gentleman : this, if you lay afide the break-
faft and dinner, amounts to near 10 per
cent, upon all the labour of a farm, exclu-
five of three men with the team.
I fuppofed the team to work 52 weeks;
but a part of the year it {lands Hill ; this is
no impeachment of my calculation, which
was to difcover proportions, not quantity.
If we fubftitute 26 weeks, inftead of 52,
there will be no difference in the 3 2 per
cent, nor in any of the conclufions.
The other lofs therefore upon common
labour, unconnected with the team, a-
mounts to more than the refiduum^ after
deducting three men; as thofe three will
o/ten be commonly employed : And what
comparifon can there be in the ufe of the
farmer to himfelf, when the team is idle,
and the gentleman's fervant to him ?
The
The ftrong idea I have of the truth of
thefe reflexions, makes me confident that
I am far under the mark.
Again, if the farmer has fervants, they
eat and drink with him, nor is it in their
power to wafte any thing, while all is un-
der his or his wife's eye ; nor can they
carry out his victuals, to fell it to the la-
bourers. How ftands this cafe with the
gentleman ? He boards his men at full i oo
per cent, dearer than the farmer. If his
men are honeft, they will not cheat him in
the fmall matters of the kitchen ; but
does he not depend, for this, on their ho-
nefty ? What is the fituation of him who
depends on the honefty of others ? Not
that of the farmer I have ftated.
But thefe, cries a gentleman, are trifles
not worth conlidering ; if farming is able
to do any thing, it will furely overbalance
fuch matters as thefe. Very true ; gen-
tlemen do think them trifles ; but if they
weigh their farming purfe at the end of the
year, they will find even fuch trifles have a
wonderful efficacy in lightening it. They
may be trifles, compared to the whole a-
mount
( 266 )
mount of their income or expences ; but
thefe have nothing to do with farming.
Let them calculate the proportion betvveea
fuch fums, and the intereft or profit of the
capital they employ in hufbandry : they
will, after fuch a comparifon, no longer call
them trifles.
It certainly may be faid, and with very
great juftice by men of fortune, that they
farm for amufement for the benefit of
keeping horfes for advantages in houfe-
keeping, &c. &c. &c. and that fuch an
attention as the farmers give would be im-
pofiible in them ; and, if poflible, at leaft
intolerable : that they had rather be hanged
than be at fuch trouble, for the fake of a
paltry profit. I join with them entirely
in all thefe fentiments ; but then let them
forbear the boafting of their profit, and
not, as many do, infift they make money
by it.
To return : If we take into the account
all thefe complicated difadvantages, we
fhall find that 12 per cent, upon labour is a
very low calculation of the gentleman's dif-
advantages.
( *7 )'
advantages. I cannot hefitate thinking
that it amounts to above 20 *.
In the felling the produce of the farm :
but, hold! the gentleman employs a
bailey : that indeed is a new matter, and
muft not be pafled over.
I apprehend it will be thought that the
wages, board, &c. &c. of a bailey cannot
be eftimated at lefs than 50 /. If he is one
that does not work hard himfelf, and there
are very few fuch, it may be fomewhat
lower ; but a fervant that is entrufted more
than the common ones, in the very nature
of his office, defires much higher wages,
and expences of all kinds, than inferior
ones.' 20 /. a year is the loweft pay that I
am acquainted with, even for a working
bailey, that fells the corn, &c. and his
board, wafhing, lodging, ufe of a horfe
pretty often, &CT&C. cannot amount, in any
gentleman's family even of fmall fortune,
to lefs than 20 /. more.
* In the fucceeding chapters, thefe calculations muft be
ufed in various forms, fometimes as a total expence per
team, and at others all thrown into labour ; in the latter
I calculate the total of thefe differences 3 2 per cent, in one
cafe, and 1 2 in the other at 27. Minute accuracy, as I have
often obferved, is not only ufelcfs, but impoffible, if it were
ever fo ufeful.
Now,
Now, if 40 /. or 50 f. a year be divided
into fo much per cent, on the capital cm-
ployed in hufbandry, the remedy, in any
but a very large farm, will be found worfe
than the difeafe. But is it a remedy? Will
the employing a bailey bring all the preced-
ing articles of difad vantage to a par with
the farmer? Far from it; there is a great
difference between a man acting for himfelf,
and for another: befides, baileys do not
drive the team ; and very few of them even
plough, fo that there will be nearly the
fame reafons for the workmen and horfes
being flack in their work under the bailey,
as under the mafter ; fuppofmg, I mean,
lie is perfectly honeft, and confiders his
matter's intereft as his own.
But how are we to reduce the honefty of
the bailey to calculation ? This furpafles all
our art; but a few conjectures may not be
unprofitable. I have fcarce ever been in
any county without finding the knavery of
baileys, hinds, agents, &c. &c. &c. a com-
mon fubject of difcourfe among farmers;
which, though no proof, is yet a ftrong
preemption. Nor is it to be wondered at,
for they are ufually people of very low
birth
( s6 9 )
birth and education, \vho have fcarce any
ideas of honour and juftice, but controuled
by fear alone ; and the nature of their, em-
ployment laying them open to a multipli-
city of temptations, it would be aftonifhing
if they continued totally uncorrupt. Ho-
nefty, in that rank of people, . is nothing
' but fituation ; if they are concerned merely
for themfelyes in buying and felling, and
other bufinefs of the fame fort, they habi-
tually become accuftomed to that common
fort of honefty which keeps them in.
decency; but move the fame man into
another fphere, in which he touches much
money of another perfon's, without moil
regular accounts of it, he will as habitually
become a rogue* God forbid I fhould
hazard a general aflertipn, that all baileys
are rogues; I am fpeaking rather of tHe
nature of the bufinefs, than the characters
of the men : If that has a regular tendency
to corrupt its profeflbrs, the chances are
undoubtedly againft them.
The probability of the bailey's not being
honeft, muft therefore be left to the rea-
der's idea; I fhall only conjecture a few of
the ill confequences.
In
In a farm where a bailey is kept, the
buying and felling every thing pafies
through his hands ; if not, what is he kept
for ? We may fuppofe a gentleman would
not be at the expence of one for nothing ;
or to truft his own judgment, when he pays
another for having a better. If we reflect
on the fale of corn, cattle, hay, &c. &c.
and the buying of feed-corn, hay, ftraw,
horfes, lean cattle, &c. &c. &c. and much
of both, unavoidably, tranfaded with people
that can only make a mark, or at fairs,
where even no mark is made ; in fuch a
conduct of bufmefs opportunities to be dif-
honeft, and with impunity, muft unavoid-
ably be numerous. But, at all events, let
the fuppofition be ftated as it will, all man-
kind muft allow the farmer to have much
the advantage, who tranfacts all fuch bufi-
nefs himfelf, and in no inftance trufts to
the honefty of others.
But another circumftance, not to be
forgot, is the judgment and knowledge of
the bailey: ;The very employing him is
a proof that the gentleman depends not on
his own ; and the difficulty is, the difcern-
ing whether the fervant's knowledge is
fufficient
( 27.1 )
fufficient to fupply the defeds of the
mailer's. A man who finds the judgment
of a bailey of ufe to him, moft certainly
knows' too little of the practice of hufbandry,
to difcover when he is well or when ill
ferved : ^onfequently the whole of his bu-
fmefs may fuffer, through the ignorance of
the bailey, and the gentleman know little
of the matter.
I pretend not to reduce fuch complicated
contingent matters to calculation; but my
readers, I apprehend, will allow me that,
in all thefe points, the common farmer has
a vaft fuperiority to the gentleman one.
Let us now be equally fair and impartial in
ftating the other fide of the queflion, and
confider the circumftances in which the
gentleman has the advantage of the far-
mer.
Throughout thefe meets, I attempt to
ftate the account of every farm, with an
eye not only to the land itfelf, but alfo to
fuch circumftances of the man who occu-
pies it; fuch as his fubftance, houfe-keep-
ing, furniture, &c. In the fame manner,
variations muft be made between the prac-
tice of gentlemen and that of common far-
mers.
mers. Their fuperiority in general know-
ledge, in reading, and obfervation, may be
of ufe to them in farming, and demand as
much to be carried to their account as the
fuperior induftry, common knowledge, and
attention of thefarm ers entered to theirs.
If there are any new difcoveries in huf-
bandry or if beneficial practices, common
in one part of the kingdom, are to be in-
troduced to another, the benefit of fuch
have nothing to do with the farmer ; be-
caufe, we may be certain that he, from
habit and confined views, will have nothing
to fay to them. But the gentleman, with
more enlarged ones, may be fuppofed to
reap advantages in this field.
Here it may be faid, that fuch advantages
are very ideal fpeculative and uncer-
tain ; and, in many cafes, much more
unprofitable and pernicious than bene-
ficial : But, in anfwer to this, I obferve,
that fuppofing the objection true, yet it no
ways impeaches the propriety of confider-
ing it as a capability in favour of the gentle-
man ; it is true, he may apply it to his pre-
judice, but is that any argument againft
it? The farmer may carry his frugality
into
into avarice, and deny his farm the necef-
fary expences of tillage and manure ;
but are we therefore to forbear calculating
upon the general fuperiority of his fruga-
lity? It is univerfally allowed, that we
ought not to reject a practice in morals,
politicks or trade, merely becaufe it is
capable of being pernicious. In the fame
manner, we are not to reject, from the
gentleman's account, the advantages I have
mentioned, becaufe he may apply them to
his deftruction : that is not the fault of
thofe fuppofed advantages, but in a want
of judgment in the individual who makes
the application.
That there are numerous inftances of
the kind in queftion, wherein the gentle-
man may be fuppofed vaftly fuperior to the
farmer, a very little attention will difcover.
A few inftances. may be named in a mo-
ment.
Suppofe the gentleman to live in a
country wherein turnips are commonly
cultivated, but none hoed: He finds, in
turning over his books, that hoeing is a
common practice in many counties, and
prodigiouQy advantageous j takes the
VOL. I. T hint,
( 274 )
hint, and hoes his own : Is it not extremely
evident, that he will make much money by
fuch a practice.
In the fame manner, clover is unknown
in a country, though pafture of all kinds is
extremely fcarce Will a common farmer
introduce it ? Moft affuredly not: but a
gentleman, from his fuperiority of general
knowledge, may be fuppofed to do it, and
will indubitably reap the benefit.
A country may contain fine tracts of
fandy loam, highly proper for carrots, and
yet not one to be found : may not the gen-
tleman, from his reading, introduce this
excellent root? And is it not as clear that
he will find the culture greatly profitable ?
A clay country may be fo uniform in
heavy land, as not to be capable of produ-
cing a fmgle turnip or carrot to advantage,
to the great lofs of the farmer, who cannot
keep good ftocks of cattle for want of
plenty of winter food ; now, on fuch land,
cabbages are cultivated to infinite profit,
even fuperior to what is any where received
from turnips : The gentleman is the
perfon who can alone be fuppofed to intro-
duce fuch a practice, not the farmer.
6 Another
( 275 )
Another trad of country may be totally
deficient in pafturage, from the drynefs of
the foil, or from other caufes : Sainfoine
and lucerne are in iuch, and rtlimerous
other cafes, to be ufed to prodigious be-
nefit ; - but the common farmer will have
nothing to fay to either of them, if not
common among his brethren. Thefe
inftances might be multiplied to infinity ;
and certainly form a very eonfiderable
weight in the gentleman's fcale*
That judgment is neceflary in fuch in-
troductions, 1 moft readily agree : a gentle^
man animated with reading books of huf-
bandry may form vifionary ideas of digging
in more fertile mines than thofe of Peru or
Mexico, if he does but purfiie the directions
of fome writers : he may then fow car-
rots in a clay-foil, and plant cabbages on a
fandy gravel : he may introduce fainfoine
on weeping clays, and lucerne in bogs:
there is no doubt thefe blunders may be
made ; but thefe are not thofe \vhich are moft
to be feared.
In the fame page, perhaps, in which he
finds carrots, lucerne, clover or turnips,
fenfibly recommended, he may alfo find as
T a warm
( 276 )
warm a character of the drill-hufbandry\ ins
general, for all forts of vegetables of
trarifplanting turnips for a crop of buy-
ing 300 fows at once to fat their pigs on
clover of digging to the centre of the
earth in fearch of fertility of manuring
land with boiled lupines ; in a word, of
an hundred rhodomontade inftructions, fuf-
ficient to ruin a Nabob. Here judgment
fhould come in play, to reject the impro-
bable from that which is rational the chaff
from the corn. Without this judgment,
what I have ftated as an advantage cer-
tainly may prove an evil. But then this
is the .mere abufe of a circumftance not in-
herent in it.
I have no doubt but a gentleman with a
tolerable fhare of underftanding, and fome
practical knowledge of agriculture, may,
by the means here recited among others,
more than balance all the advantages of
' the farmer, great as they undoubtedly
are but, without making life of fuch, I
think it is impoffible : he can never fight
the farmer with his .own weapons. For
this reafon, I fhall, in the enfuing calcu-
lations, aim at difplaying the confequences
both
troth of neglecting this precaution and pro-
fiting by it.
Upon the whole, there can be no doubt
but distinctions of confequence exift be-
tween gentlemen and common farmers, in
the whole practice of agriculture ; and if fo,
it is certainly neceflary for me to make a
diftinction between them in the point of
flocking farms, as the fum requifite to hire
one, in every inftance, depends on the
practice to be followed.
And my principal endeavour will be to
{hew in what manner gentlemen, by farm-
ing upon improved methods, may equal
the natural advantages of the common far-
mers ; which, with refpect to the former,
will be attended with much more ufe than
calculations, in which they are reckoned
nearly on an equality with them,, 1 heir
difadvantages, in that method, are fo pro-
digioufly great, and fo unfufceptible of cal-
culation, that if I was only to reckon 33
per cent, on horfes, and 1 2 per cent', on other
labour, I mould, take the whole bufmefs
through, be full 2,0 per cent, above the
truth : If all the numerous difadvantages of
the gentleman, in common hufbandry, be
T 3 coniidered,
( 278 )
confidered, one cannot reckon his general
profit fo great as that of the farmer by at
leaft one third, or 33 per cent, and this for
calculation. In facl, I am perfaaded it is,
in one cafe, a reality, but in the other an
imagination, or worfe, a lofs.
Suppofmg it was a point capable of
proof, I would bet any wager within the
compafs of my fortune, that no gentleman
in England, by common management,
upon a farm fairly ftated as to rent, and
all accounts clear and fatisfactory, made
within 40 per cent, of the profit of a good
neighbouring farmer. If I had faid 50
or 60 per cent. I do not think I mould have
exceeded the mark, grazing farms ex-
cepted.
Some farmers (in middling farms) do
little more work themfelyes than gentle-
men. Such partake of both the claffes I
have ftated ; they have, however, the ad-
vantage of the latter in attending more to
their bufmefs ; and the gentlemen of them
in that enlarged knowledge I before men-
tioned.
In the fucceeding chapters, as in the
preceding, I fuppofe nothing but excellent
hufbandry ;
( 279 )
imfbandry ; and rational conduct, refpefting
the number of horfes.
There will be many variations in the
future, which are not to be found in the
preceding pages, and fome which I muft
pafs without explanations. To explain
every thing, would alone fill a volume;
the reader muft either have fume depend-
ance on me, that I fhall not run into ufe-
lefs ones, or he would wade through per-
petual explanatory paflages : I lhall, how-
ever, omit none which are really neceffary.
There will be fome places in which I
ihalj. appear inconfiftent with the preceding
chapters, but if the difference between the
fubftance of the men is taken into the ac-
count, many fuch places will not be at all
puzzling.
I proceed to the calculations, only beg-
ging the reader, once more, not to judge
too critically of each feparately ; my grand
defign may be anfwered without fuch mi-
nute accuracy ; and although a farmer may
meet with many rates that vary from riis
country, yet the alterations may be eafily
and quickly made, and the accounts ufed
T 4 by
by any man for any farms, when all the
principal heads which mould be in his
memory, at fo critical a time, are ftated to
his view : he need not, in fuch a fitua-
tion, forget any, nor hire a farm in the
dark, while every point he mould reduce
to calculation lies before him : but the rates
I have ufed, I believe, will not be found
far from the medium of many counties.
CHAP. XXI.
Of the mo/t advantageous method of difpofing
of from five to fix hundred pounds in
farming.
method to be perilled in this and
-*- the fucceeding chapters will be to
ftate, firft, the flocking by common far-
mers ; and then that by gentlemen, which
will be no more than a review of the for-
mer, with deductions ia one cafe, and alte-
rations in the other.
N* i.
Eighty acres, all arable, the foil clay or
loam, and laid do-wn to grafs.
Stock.
Rent, &c.
Rent, of 80 acres, at
8 s - 7 2
Tythe,'atV. J ^
Rates, &c.&c.at4-f- *4
. 100 10 O
Implements.
2 Carts, -18 o o
A plough, i " 6
Harrows, - 2 o o
Roller, * I0
-Harnefs for 3 horfes, 4 o
Screen, bufliel, fans,
fieves, &c. &c- 5
Sacks,
Dairy furniture, - 200
36 I
Live flock.
3 Horfes, - 40 o o
7 Cows, 35
i Sow, - i
Carryover, .213 J 7 6
5^^
( =82 )
Brought over, . 212 17 6
Seed and tillage.
4 Earths, on 20 acres
of wheat land, . 16 o o
Seed, - 12 o o
Sowing, - - o 10 o
Water-furrowing, i o o
Two earths, on 15 acres
of barley* land, 600
Seed, 7 10 o
Sowing, - - 3 9
Water-furrowing, 076
One earth on 5 acres of
.oat-land, - I o o
Seed, 2 10 o
Sowing, - o i 3
Water-furrowing, 026
Seed clover, 20 acres,
and fowing, - 450
51 10 o
Labour.
The amount of this cannot
be calculated exactly by
preceding farms, as there
is no analogy between
this and any of them; the
Carry over, . 264" 7 6
beft
Brought over, . 364. 7 6
beft method of calculating
it is to eftimate it in the
lump at one man's labour
the year round; as this
is not an annual account,
accuracy is not of fo much
importance: Suppofe, jC* ^5 O O
Wear and tear^ &c.
Shoeing, - .300
Wear and tear, - 500
Houfe-keeping, - 10 o o
furniture, 10 o o
27 o o
' 3 l6 7 6
ProduQe thefrft year.
20 Acres of wheat, - . 80 o o
15 Of barley, - 45 o p
7 Cows, - - - 21 o o
. 146 o o
The farmer got through his firft year ;
we muft next inquire into the fecond.
Expences.
Rent, &c. - - - - 100 16 o
(Seed for 20 acres of wheat, - 12 o o
Carry over, . 1 12 16 o
Seed
Brought over, . 1 1 2 1 6 o
Seed for 20 acres of fpring-
corn, - 10 o o
Ditto a oof graffes, 20 o o
Labour, - 25 o o
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, &c. &c. - 1700
. 184 16 o
Produce.
30 Acres of wheat, -80 o o
1 6 Ditto of barley, 48 o o
7 Cows, 35* o o
163 o o.
Expences, - - 184 16 o
Produce, - - - 163 o o
21 16 o
Intereft of flock, - 17 14 o
Lofs, - - . - . 39 10 o
This fecond year the fields are, 20 acres
of wheat, 20 of fpring-corn with graffes,
2O of clover, and 20 fallow. The third
year's account will be as follows :
Expences.
Expences.
Sundries, as the laft year,
except the whole feed be- /. s. d.
ing fpring-corn, - 182 1 6 o
20 Acres more graffes, - 20 o o
. 202 I 6 O
Produce.
36 Acres of barley, - . 108 o o
5 Cows fold off, - - 25 o o
2 Ditto produce, - - 10 o o
15 Acres of grafs mown for
hay, 15* loads at 30 s.
flacked on farm, 22 10 o
. 165 10 o
Expences, '- * - !;;-.,* 202 16 o
Produce, - ;#. " J ^5 IO
37 6 o
Intereft of flock, .*; 19 1 3 o
Lofs, - . 46 19 o
The fields, this third year, are cropped
with qo acres of fpring corn and grafs:
20 of grafs, a new lay; and 20 fallow.
The fourth year's account will be as fol-
lows:
( 286 )
Expences. 1. s. d*
Rent, &c. - . IQO 16 b
Seed for 20 acres of fpring-
corn, - 10 o o
Ditto of grafs -feeds* - 20 o c5
Labour affiftance in mow-
ing, and making, and
flacking 40 acres of grafs
in hay, will amount to - 10 o <5
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, n ".1100
Wear and tear, - 2 10 o
Houfe-keeping, 10 o o
25 Heifers, - 75 o o
. 229 16 o
Produce.
1 6 Acres of barley, - . 48 o o
40 Loads of hay, - 60 o o
2 Cows, - 10 o o
25 Fat heifers, - - 125 o o
243 o o
Of implements there
are now to be fold,
Carry over* .243
what
Brought over, . 243 o
what coft, - >34 -i 6
And 2 horfes, - 26 o o
Suppofe they bring
Expences,
Intereft of ftock, *
Profit,
The Annual Account will be :
Expences.
Rent, &c. - - loo 16 o
Shoeing, - o 12 o
Houfe-keeping, - 10 o o
50 Perches of ditching, and
hire of carts, &c. to carry
the earth on to the land, - 515 o
100 Home-bred heifers, - 300 o o
-417 3~
Produce.
ico Fat heifers, - 500 o o
2 Cows, - 10 o o
Pro-
( 288 )
Produce, . 510 o o
Expences, - 417 3 o
92 17 o
Intereft of ftock, 2 9 X 3 o
Profit, - - 67~T~o
General Account of thefe four years.
The firft ftock, -316 7 6
Product of the firft year,
fhort of the expences of
the fecond, - - 38 16 o
Product of the fecond year,
fhort of the expences of
the third, - - 39 16 o
Produd of the third year,
ftiortof the expence of the
fourth, - - 64 6 O
Product of the fourth year,
fhort of the expence of the
fifth, &c. - 1 34 3 o
Which total is the fum he-
ceflary to ftock this farm, . 593 8 6
With a gentleman this account will
ftand thus :
Stock.
Rent, &c. as before, - .10016 o
Implements, ditto, - 36 i 6
Carryover, . 136 17 6
Live
( 289 )
Brought over, & 136 17 6
Live flock, as before, - 76 o o
Seed and tillage, ditto, - 51 10 o
Labour : This article
before was 25" /. or
one man's; but as
the gentleman does
nothing himfelf, we
muflrftate the account
thus : - . 25
o o
Another man, 2 5
o o
~~
o o
* 27 per cent, on.tfiis, 13.
10
, , An T <-\
O'
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, - - . 2
O
Wear and tear, - 5
V'.r* ~~
7 o
o
334 i7
6
See the note, page 267 : As the expences of horfes
are not in this eftimate thrown by themfelves, the difference
in labour and horfes, between the gentleman and farmer,
are thrown together, and charged under the article labour :
hot as an abfolutely accurate fum, but one very moderately
calculated, and to mew that fome allowance of this nature
ihould in private eftimates be made.
VOL. I. U Produce
Produce the firft year.
This the fame as before *, . _
Second year's account.
Expences.
Rent, &c. jC- IO l6
Seed (the fame as the farmer) 42 o
Labour, - - ^3 IO
Sundries, - * -
The fame, - - . 163 o o
Expences, - - - 213 6 o
Produce, - - 163 o o
50 6 o
Intereft of flock, - 20 i _ o
Lofs, . 70 7 Q
Account of the third year.
Expences. L s. d.
Rent, &c. . 10016 o
Seed for 40 acres of fpring-
corn, - 20 o o
Carryover, . 120 16 o
* The produft of cows comes into this article: Now
this is very different between a gentleman and a farmer
indeed infinitely fo ; but as the fanner reaped belides
advantages from his dairy, and as I allow the gentleman
none, nor charge his fwine tQ account, this will fomewhat
balancs the account between them.
4 Seed
')
Brought over, . 120 16 o
Seed for grafies, -- ! 40 o o
Labour, ^ * - 63 io .-9
Sundries, - 7
.231 6 o
Produce.
The fame, - . it>5 10 o
Expences, - - - 231 6 o
Produce, - > 165 10 o
.65 16 o
Intereft of flock, - Jl ** * 2390
gt^ - - - ^."90" 5 o
Account of the fourth year.
Rent, &c. - - - . ico 16 o
Seed for 20 acres of fpring-
corn, - 10 o o
Ditto of grafs feed, - , 20 o p
Labour; farmer's . 10 o o
Add, - - 10 o o
. 20 o o
27 percent, on it, 3 80
-- 25 8 o
Shoeing, and wear and tear, 400
25 Heifers, 75
235 4 o
U 2
Produce. I. 's. d.
The fame, 283 o o
Expences, - - 235: 4 o
InterefVof ftoek,
Profit,
The ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expjtces.
Rent, &c. - . 100 16 o
; Shoeing, - - o 12 o
Ditching and carts, - - 515
i oo Home-bred heifers, - 300 o o
-47~ 3 o
Produce.
The fame, . -' '. 510 o o
Expences, - 407 3 o
102 17 o
"Intereft of flock, 33 4 o
Profit, - . 69 13 o
GENERAL ACCOUNT.
Firft flock, . 334 J 7 6
Produce of the rirfl year,
below the expences of the
fecond, 67 6 o
Carry over, . 402 3 6
- Produce
)
Brought over, . 402^- '3- 6
Produce of the fecond year,
below the.expences of ttat '. . i -a* ' sd
third, ;q:A I rcniS .6877 nE*Ji
Produce of the third 'i.year^.i iljhy fx>fi3
r^ftehrvv he,expences of thr^i .MI
' fourth j:; ;3icjsrf afiust^dj "io
Produce of the fourth, :be r A 0.1 r ib -
4ow the expences of the; LnU sd
fth^j&c^:::.'S4 i fa[uC*r^k s i34.":&--~:Q
Which total ist neceffsry { fpjcr:ol;nos B ilj.i
this.farm, ' . 6641 -&r 16
t-l-'^cirlT .r: < ~ ^'"^"^
Thus we find, accordmg^to,this account,
a gentleman fhould have above 70 /. more
than a farmer, to ftock.So acres of "arable
land to be laid- down to .grafs. But allow T
ances in favour of the latter, in matters
unfufccptible of calculation, mould be made
in the .mind of the reader: Perhaps, 100 /.
would be near the truth'j'kut this is a mere
conjcaure. ,
1- have flippofed the one- tp tniy as cheap
and fell as dear as the other : - a large
ijippofitipn at Icaft.
The iuperiority of the gen tl era an, in an-r
nua] profit, ariies from the circu:
^ 3^
( =94 )
of houfe-keeping : It was certainly proper
to charge that tp the farmer ; but it would
be as improper to charge it to the gentle-
manV whofe farm I Aippofe totally, uncon-
nected with hi$ hotife : but this is a no-W-
ad vantage in favour of the farmer, for with
fhe afliftance of the farm before uVand the
fum of 10 /. with, what his family may
earn, he and th^y are all maintained :*
fuclvan feftimate would be wide-of the truth
with a gentleman, but then the omiffion
)f t&e 10 /. in his account, forms fo mikch
a~greater balance to the farmer. This cafe
is a difficulty, and an unavoidable one, in
thefe eflimates.
If we fuppbfe the gentleman's houfe-
keeping to receive fbrne advantages from
the farm; yet thofe of the fanner will be
proportionally larger, beficics the 10 /.
To pafs over the difference of this 10 /.
would be to al!d\V a palpable error to run
through feveral of the fucceedin accounts.
The way in v^h 1 ! I think it may be bed
remedied, wilt be to ihte both the farmer's
and gentleman's account ; the one with
Fuch an allowance, the other without it ;
but, in the CQ:n^rlJbn^ to dedutfrthe fum al-
lowed
lowed to the farmer for houfe-keeping,
from the amount of the gentleman's profit ;
this will throw them fo far upon an
equality.
According to this account, the gentle-
man's profit, on the farm before us, will
be 59 /. 13 s. per annum. The largenefs of
which is owing to the farm being all grafs,
in which the gentleman has no peculiar
difadvantages, any more than the farmer,
as no labour is wanting.
Variation the Jirjl.
Sixty acres, all arable, the foil clay or ham,
find laid doivn to grafs.
Stock.
Rent, &c. &c. as in N I.
Ch. xix. - . 75 12 o
Implements, ditto - 34 66
. 109 18 6
Live Stock.
3 Hdrfes,
- - . 36 o o
2 COWS,
- f - - 10 o o
I Sow, -
- - - o 15 o
46 15 o
Carryover, . 156 13 6
U 4 Sctd
Brought over, .156 13 6
Seed and Tillage.
Four earths on 15 acres
of wheat land, - 12 o o
Seed, - - 900
Sowing, - -076
Water-furrowing, o 15 Q
Two earths on 10-iacres
of barley land, -440
Seed, - - 550
Sowing, - - o 2 7,1
\Vater-furrowing, &c. 053
One earth on 4^- acres
of oat land, - 0180
Seed, - 250
Sowing, - o i i-l
Water-furrowing, -023
35 5 9
Labour.
This quantity of land, all
tillage, in N i. took in la-
bour 32 /. iq .r. 9^. but 1 3/.
3 j. of it was for the bean
and clover crops, which
I therefore deduct, - J 9 7 9
{Sundry articles, as in N i. 25 16 o
2 37 3 Q
The
( 297 )
The firft year, the crops are I $ acres of
wheat and 15 of fpring corn; and the other
30 fallow. The produce of which is,
15 Acres of wheat, ^f Life $&i 1
107 of barley, -gfafr a* c '3 1 , IO
2 Cows, if^.r,. - JJi.fl 1 -- ' iQ-fi.;
. 101 10 o
The fecond'year, 30 acres are fallow, and
30 of fpring corn with giraffes amongft ft.
The account as follows.
>>T . Ex fences.
Rent, &c. -75
Seed for 30 acres of fpring
corn, - ...
Ditto grafTes, .-&; -Uk*r^
labour,
Sundry articles,
Produce.
25 L Acres of barley, - 7 1O
5 Cows, I0 : J?
h6 10 o
Expences, - - - J 55 J 5 9
.Produce, 86 10 o
69 5 9
Int^reft
( =98 )
Brought over, . 69 5 9
Intereft of the ftock, - . 14 i o
Lofs, . 83^6 9
The third year 30 acres will be in
grafs, and 30 in fpring-corn with grafFes
amongft it. The account as follows :
Expences. /. /. d.
Rent, &c. - - 75 12 o
Seed for 30 acres of fpring
corn,
Ditto, ditto of grafles,
Labour as before, .19
Add for hay-making, 6
H5
Sundry articles
Shoeing, -. i o o
Wear and tear, - .1100
Houfe- keeping, - 10 o o
12 10
J 58 9 9
Produce.
257 Acres of barley, - . 76 10 o
2 Cows, - jo o o
30 Acres of hay, i load per
acre, at 30 s. in the flack, 45 o o
-
Expences,
( 299 )
Expences, - . 158 9 o
Produce, - *"-j- - 131 10 o
r/3^ T -
26 19 9
Intereftofftock, 17 13 o
The fourth year it is all grafs, half mown
and half fed with heifers : The account as
follows.
Expences. L s. d.
Rent, &c. - .-rt&v^ 75 12 o
Mowing, making,-and flack-
ing 30 acres, the-affift-
ance, .rrU*'- rej^s 800
Shoeing and houfe-keeping, 10 12 o
37 Home-bred heifers, in op
.505 4 "o
30 Tons of hay as before, /". 45 o o
2 Cows, - : -.:t ( 10 o o
37 Fat heifers, - ^^ 185 o o
Sale of implements and 2
horfes; they coft56 /. 6 s. 6 d. 30 o o
270 o o
Expences, : /^M - - 205 4 o
64 16 o
Interefl of ftock, - 21 7 o
Profit, - .'^3" 9 o
The
The fifth ahd fucceeding years it will be
grafsr and all fed: the account thus :
Expences*
Refit>- &, ^T. 75 12 o
.Shoeing and houfe-keeping, 10 12 o
75 Heifers, - - 225 o o
Hire of carting for ditch-
earth, 500
-3 l6 4 o
Produce.
2 Caws* - - 10 o c
75 Fat heifers, - - 375 9
385 o o
_. X
Expences, - - 310 4 o
~68"l6~8
Inter-e-iV 24 13 o
Profit, - /T4^.~^o
And the general account of flock is as
follows :
The original fum, >C* -3 7 3
The nrft year's produce be-
low the fecond year's ex-
pences, by 54 5 9
The fecond year's produce
below the third year's ex-
pence - 71 19 9
Carry over, .- 363 8 6
7 The
Brought over, jC-3^3 8 6
The third year's produce,
below the fourth year's
expence, ( \ - "r ; * 73 H
The fourth -year's produce,
. below the fifth year's ex-
pence, - " - 4&, '4P '6
Sum total requifite for this - -' '-
* - - 483 & 6
It is to be remarked, that although this
fum is neceflary to have in command, yet
it is no.t a}l wanting at firfl, confequently
parts of it may remain at intereft ; that is,
the farmer need not call in his money fafter
than he wants it ; and this progreflion of
intereft on the flock is calculated throughout
this eftimate, as well as others, :< ^i
The gentleman's account of this farm
will be as follows : -
Stock.
Rent, &c. the fame, - . 75 12 6
Implements, ditto, - 54 6 6
Live flock, ditto, - 46 15 o
Seed and tillage, ditto, - 35 $ 9
Carryover, . 191 19 3
Labour ;
Brought over, . 191 19 3
Labour ; before, - 19 79
Add one man, - 25 o o
-44~ 7 9
2 7 /tf r J. i T oo
55 7 9
Shoeing, - i 16 o
Wear and tear, - - 4. o o
253 3 Q
Produce of the firft year.
The fame, - - . i.Qi 10 o
Account of the fecond year.
Expences.
Rent, &c. ^. 75 12 o
Seed, - - 45 o o
Labour, - - 55 7 9
Shoeing, &c. * 5. 16 o
^C- ]81 15 9
Produce.
The fame, - , - ^. 86 10 o
Expences, - - - 181 15 9
Produce, - - 86 10 o
~95 5 9
Intereft of ftock, - ^ 16130
Lofs, r . in 18 9
Account
Account of the third year.
Expences.
Rent, &c. - 75 **
Seed, - 45 o
Labour: before, .25 79
Add, - 25 o_Q
- 5 7 9
S7 percent. - 13- Io
63 17 9
Shoeing, and wear and tear, _ 2 IQ 9
jf. 186 10 9
*** - . .
Prc?^/^.
The fame, - ^'IiL 10
Expences, ^^ 186 19 9
Produce, ^ ^B 1 IQ Q
~V 55 9 9
Intereft of flock*. y^ix: gi ^3
Account of the fourth year.
Expences. L s* d.
Rent, &c. 75 ! 2 o
Labour: before, . 8 o o
Add, - 800
27 p^r cent. - 4100
: : - 30 IO O
Carry over, .96 2 o
Shoeing,
( 304 )
Brought over, . 96
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, -
37 Heifers,
Produce.
The fame,
Expences,
Intereft of flock,
Profit,
210
III
. 209 12 o
/.~ d.
270 o o
209 12 O
60 8 o
25 ii o
34 17 o
The ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences.
Rent, &c. . 75 12 o
Shoeing, and wear and tear, 210 o
75 Heifers, - - 225 o o
Labour for ditching, - 10 o o
Hire of carts, - - 500
Produce.
The fame,
Expences,
Intereft of ftock,
Profit,
.318 2
jC- 385 o o
318 2
.66 18 o
2800
/,. 38 18 o
GENERAL
GENERAL ACCOUNT.
Firft expence in ftock, 2 53 3
Firft year's produce below
the fecond year's expences
by - 80 5 9
Second year's produce be-
low the third year's ex-
pences by - - 100 9 9
Third year's produce below
the fourth year's expence 78 2 o
Fourth year's produce be-
low the fifth year's ex-
pence, - 48 2 O
Total neceflary for this
farm, ~ v* 560 2 6
The profit upon thefe two farms, both to
the farmer and gentleman, is confiderable ;
and much greater, every thing confidered,
even to the farmer, than the fame quantity
of arable land would yield: but, to the
gentleman, the difference is immenfe, as
we mall prefently fee.
If he keeps a bailey upon the laft farm,
who cofts him 40 /. a year, the loweft he
can be rated at, that fmgle expence more
than fwallows up all the profit of the
VOL. I. X farm.
( 5P.6.. ),
farm. If he does the .fame on the former
farm, he will receive but 19 /. profit.
N S .
Variation thefecond.
Om hundred acres, all arable, the foil clay
or loam.
Stock.
Rent, <&c.
TOO Acres, at 17 s. . 85* o o
Tythe, at 4 s. - 17 o o
Rates, &c. &c. at 4 s. 1 7 o o
ug o a
Implements.
One waggon, ,25 o a
2 Carts, - 20 o o
S Ploughs, 3 3 o
1 Pair of harrows> % 10 o
2 Rollers, - 300
Harnefs for 4 horfes, 600
Screen, bufhels, forks,
rakes, &c. &c. 8 o a
20 Sacks, 3 oo
Dairy furniture, - 300
Carryover, .192 13 o
5 Live
( 307 )
Brought over, .. 192 13 o
Live flock.
4 Horfes, - jf . 60 o o
10 Cows, - - 50 o o
1 Sow, - - i o o
I II O O
Seed and tillage.
4 Earths on 25 acres
of wheat land, .20 o
Seed, 15 oo
Sowing, - -"0126
Water-furrowing, 150
2 Earths on 164- acres
of barley land, - 6 12 O
Seed, "-, 850
Sowing, - - o 4 i-J-
Water-furrowing, o 83 ]-**
One earth on 8-1 acres
of oat land, ><~i 14 Q
Seed, - 4 -5 o
Sowing, .*- - o" 2 IT
Water-furrowing, 043
Clover-feed, 25 acres, 500
Sowing, -063
Harrowing, i 5 o
65 3 6
Carry over, /
X 2 Labour*
Brought over, . 368 1 6 6
Labour.
I make a variation here
from any of the pre-
ceding farms : With
this quantity of land
it is neceflary to cal-
culate the whole la-
bour of the farm into
one fum,from which,
a deduction of one
man's labour may be
made for the farmer,
if he works, and no
deduction if he does
not, viz.
25 Acres of wheat,
ploughed fix times,
at I s. ps r acre, . 7 10 o
One harrowing, at I d. o q i
Sowing, - - o 12 6
"Water-furrowing, I 50
Weeding, - -150
Reaping and harveft-
ing, at 6 d. - 7100
Carryover, . 18 47 -,68 16 6
Thraihing
( S9 )
Brought over, . 18 47 368 16 6
Thrafhing the crop,
3 quarters per acre,
at 2 /. 7100
Carryingitoutioquar-
ters at a time, I day
each time, of 2 men,
call it, - o 16 o
25 Acres of fpring
corn, ploughed 3
times, 3 : .I o
Three harrowings, o 6 Q
. ^
Sowing, - o 6 Q
xTr r ?
Water-furrowing, o 12 6
Rolling, at 1 </. - o i" o{-
Mowing andharvefting
at . .
Thraming the crop* 4
quarters per acre,
at,,. - 500
Carrying out 167 acres
of barley, 4 quarters ; , ibr<i1
per acre, 1 2 quarters 3 ^ ^
at a time ; I day, of
2 men, .-'- o 10 o
Carry over, jT. 42 i J~ 368 16 6
X 3 Sowing
Btought over, . 42 i 7^ 368 16 6
Sowing 25 acres of
clover, 063
25 Acres of beans,
ploughed 3 times, 3150
Sowing, - -150
Water - furrowing
twice, - 150
Ploughing between-
the rows three times;
twice reckoned equal
to one ploughing, i J 7 6
Hand-hoeing once, 656
Reaping and harveft-
ing, at;,. - 8' 150
Thrashing the crop, 3
quarters pef'acie, at
i s. - 3150
Carrying out 9 quar-
ters at a time, i
day, 4 men, 0160
Chopping and raking
25 acres of wheat
Hubble, at i s. 6d. i 17 6
Carryover, .71 18 107368 16 6
Carting
.
f 3"
1
Brought over> < ft^i
fr^p^ift
^
Carting ditto to farm- ' :
L : '!f;')' 'Hi" r..*
yard 4 days work, r
hinr-rniBioiit
2 men, - ~p
So ifa^fe
Mowing and making -
. B -V ^ ,B^J>
7 acres of clover
^frs^niiiri ?^t
into hay, - -x : ..
8 .0
Loading, carting ditto.
^ ..'vb Jj; .^nt
home, and ftacking,
' - ,W-
4 days work of 6 i
D'ft 3*JS^'0^fD
I
men, at i s. 4 d. I
I5Z ,:p- J
Ditching 200 perches,- .
ti s/lj lo f3;lr>m
at i s. - vio
l)Qi!9?b;:o[ ci
The old ditch, if filled
up, may be made 4
J gfthdrn ><>!:
feet wide at top, 3
rftiao nriJ LTS
feet deep, and 18
:SW aiS/fj 130
inches wide at bot-
ittJj ^fi Wf>*3
tom, for the above
. f '>'j|lO "ipV'O
price, but if it is of
AM te ^fc^J
any fize then 5 feet
by 4. In either cafe
?] 8d^ 5l:r!l
there will come out
jfKol t .i ^ j.u
of it 3 loads of earth
per perch, or 600
loads, half of thefe
Carry over, . 85
6 io 368 16
6
X 4
to
( 3'* )
Brought over, . 85 6
104. 368 16 6
to be carted into
the farm-yard ; 20
load a day are 15
days, 3 d. a load
the fill ing and i s.
'
3 d. the man driv-
ing, at 6s. 3 </. a
i
day, - - 4 13
9
I calculate the 14
head of cattle will
inaice or trie itraw
12 loads of dung
.
each, or 1 68 loads;
for mixing thefe
and the earth un-
der them well to-
gether by turning
over once, 468
loads, at i d. I 19
o
Filling and fpreading
.
thefe 468 loads,
at 3 j. a fcore, or
day, and i s. 3 d
per day the man
Carryover, ,91 19
7f 368 16 6
driving
( 313 )
Brought over, jC-9 1 I 9 7r 368 16
driving away :
call it 24 days, at
4 s. 3 d. - 5 >,,,,,, ,,
Cutting 40 bufhels
of chaffer week
for the horfes,
fuppofe 2 months,
as the reft of the
J.4*i.W ) ..iSC*-- JKi.
crop will do for
the reft of the
winter, 320 bu-
fhels, att< o 13 4
Carting home the
faggots which a-
rife in the ditch,
fuppofe 2 days a
men, : - ;^ 040
20 Days employed
in bringing ma-
nure from the
neareft town, i
load a day; 2,
men, - 200
Sundry fmall arti-
cles of labour,
Carryover, .99 18 n^. 368 16 6
fuch
Wighrover, .:99 : i8 ii^'^S 16 6
fuch as cleaning
out hogs, bring-
ing up the cbws$ ' " "
goingof errands,
frightning ver-
min, &c. &c. rwnorf oilt i 1
&c. thefe will - {0frr:
be beft eftimat-
ed by fuppofmg
them to amount
to the pay of a
boyat6^.a-idayTj_ o <>
^J^lPltil
Suppofe the farmer
earns, - 15 o - o
Sundry
V3
articles.
.
% t
Shoeing, ' ''-'' . 2 8
r>
Wear and tear,
15" o
Houfe-keeping,
20
Market expences,
3
o
20 Loads manure,
,
at 5 s.
5
o
A -*
8
o
Cafh in hand to anfwer )
508
3
54-
, incidental expences, $
-
o
^558
3
5i-
There
There are numerous- variatibns" in this
account from the preceding ones, \tfhbh it
would be endlefs to' !e-fcrjlain particularly,
but fome deviations are tbo flrong to be
paffedWerV^
RenW
This article I have funk a little, as the
'farm increafes in fize :-- not, however, that
this is to be a maxim, for it will not hold
Implement:-
It was necefTary, as I allowed four horfes
to the farm, to charge a waggon ; the pur-
chafing- that implement mould always de-
pend on the numbdr of horfes. The reft
of the articles under this head are increafed
in price fomewhat in proportion to the bu-
fineis of the farm.
Livejtock.
Where four horfes are kept, it is abfo-
lutely neceflary that they mould be good
ones : more fo by far than when only
two or three are the number, as a waggon
fhould be employed at all leifure times in
the purchafe of manures, which cannot be
done to advantage unlefs the horfes are
flrong ones.
Sheep
C 316 }
Sheep wototd have been, in many refpeU,
a much more advantageous flock for fueh a
farm than cc>ws; but then the artiele of
manure, required that the ftraw of a farm
ffiould be confuraed on it, as much dung is
thereby raifed; which, upon an arable
farm,, can only be done by cows, for beafts
will riot fat on clover. If the farm ie
fhuated where cattle can be had at joift in
the ftraw yard, that way of confuming the
flraw will be more advantageous than by
cows.
Seed and tillage.
I throw this farm, like the preceding ones
of the fame kind, into four parts; one, is
cropped every year with wheat ; another
with beans in drills for fallow; the third
with fpring-corn; and the fourth with
clover. The fprmg corn I divide into bar-
ley and oats > of the latter enough to feed
four horfeSi and the quantity I calculate as
follows. I fuppofe them to be fed. with
corn through the months of October, No-
vember, December, January, February,
March, April, and May ; there is no fort
of occafion (nor is it ever done as I at pre-
fent know) to give a horfe oats while he is
in
( 317 )
in good clover. Through thofe months,
that is 34 weeks, I allow the four 8 buftiels
a week, or 272 buftiels;' which, at 4<jrs,
per acre, are 87 acres.
As to the crops which I have fuppofed,
they are, I am -confident, fuch as cannot be
objected to, being rather below than over
the truth j for the manuring I fuppofe is -
certainly confiderable ; 20 loads of good
towQ-ames or dung, and all the ditch-earth
fo well managed, if they do not produce
fuch crops as I have fketched, will yield
nothing.
Labour.
This article muft neceflarily vary greatly
in different places, but the prices I have
iuppofed cannot be very far from the truth:
I think I have omitted no work of confe-
quence upon fuch a farm, nor inferted any
which is ufelefs. The care of the horfes I
fuppofe to come into every account ; for
inftanqe, ploughing I call a milling an acre,
but then in that milling is included the af-
ternoon employed about the horfes : I charge
this work at I s. per acre, becaufe in fum-
mer more than an acre may be done in a
day : however, here is fcarce any
fu miner
I
(f 318 )
flimmer ploughing* consequently that price
cannot be objected to.
The hay of 7 acces of clover Ifuppofe to
be fufficient for the cows and horfes. With
the amftance of the ftraw of the crop, one
cannot eftimate the quantity at lefs than 20
tons; and the 18 acres are Undoubtedly
fufficient for their fummer food.
There are feveral eftimates and calcula-
tions in this article of labour, which it was
neceflary to make in order for rendering it
fufficiently comprehenfive : I can only fay
they are fuch as my experience beft
juitifies.
I do not charge the total of a man's la-
bour even to the farmer, at more than
15 /. As- 1 fuppofe him to favour himfelf
fomewhat, and never do any work but with
his horfes, we muft drop the fuppofitions
of hard labour in proportion as we advance
in fubftance; but no alteration is thence
to be made reflecting the fuperiority over
the gentleman, becaufe this I5/. will tin-
doubtedly be thrown into fuch works as
will have moft efficacy in keeping the horfes
weU- employed.; the farmer will take care
and favour himfelf in fuch as are leaft pre-
judicial-
judicial. However, this is but a fuppofition,.
and it remains in the farmer's breaft to give
the whole of his time ; : .whereas it is byjjQ,
means at the option of the gentleman to do
the fame. ;/ j; ,,; j^
. r . .. r . i -., . , Sundry articles.
Wear and tear I have proportioned to the
farm as nearly as I am able ; and houfe-
keeping is increafed, that the eftimate may
be the nearer to truth. Market ex-
pences are added for the firft time ; in like
manner, others may hereafter arife ; for it
is JTo in real bufinefs : we find expences, in
one rank of farmers, unknown^ to others
below them.
It is neceflary upon the .whole of this farm
to remark (and the obfervation is applicable
to many of the preceding ones) that no good
farmer would keep the whole of his farm in
tillage, for fear of failure of the clover crop,
which, though not common, yet does now
and then happen ; he would, for this reafon,
have 4 or 5 acres in grafs of his own lay-
ing in cafe of fuch an accident, but fo fmall
a variation is not of confequence enough to
take into this account. And Iknow feve-
ral farms that have not one acre, depending
entirely
entirely upon clover, nor did I ever hear of
a difappointment. The cafe is, fuch depen-
dance makes the farmer more than com-
monly attentive to this crop ; he manures
the field well, never fows it but with a firft
crop, and on land in excellent order ; when
fuch management is practifed, failures will
very feldom be heard of. I have remarked
this frequently, and I believe it is the fame
with all crops. We next come to the an-
nual account of this farm.
Expences. /. /. d.
Rent, &c. - - . 119 o o
Seed for 25 acres of wheat, 15 o o
Ditto 25 acres of fpring-
corn, - - - 12 10 o
Ditto 25 of clover, - -500
Ditto 25 of beans, - 10 o o
Labour, - - - 93 18 nt
Sundries, - 45 8 o
. 300 16 114.
Produce.
25 Acres of wheat, 3 qrs.
per acre, 75 qrs. at 48 s. . 180 o o
Carryover, /". 100 o o
1 6 Acres
( -3** )
Brought over,
k 180 o o
164. Acres of barley, -4 qrs.
per acre, 66 qrs. at 16 s.
;52 16 ^
25 Acres of beans, 3 qrs.
t^tibaftt^inl
fer acre, 75 qrs. at 32 r.
iz^'^'b^'b*
10 Cows, - " - ' &%
50 o o
. 402 r6"'o'
Expences,
300-16 ni.
101 19 ot
Dedud intereft of flock, -
2.7 18 o
Profit, - - *-" d
f * O ^ **
C- 74 i t
This profit is not inconfiderable, but it
is not fo great- as thofe would expecl, who
give into the common but vulgar notion,
that a farmer makes a rent after all ex-
pences are paid ; which I do not think is
ever done in common, when land is let to
its value. - The crops are very confiderable,
and fueh as no flovenly or moderate farmers
ever reap, let their land be as good as it
may; but which, with the hufbandry I
have fuppofed, is not rated too high. - -
We will jiext enquire into the particulars
of this farm in a gentleman's hands.
Voi. I. Y Variation
Variation the third.
Stock.
Rent, &c. as before,
Implements, -
Live flock, -
Seed and tillage,
Labour, .i8 18 ni
27 per cent. 29 8 o
Sundries.
Wear and tear, .17 8 o
Manure, - 5
Market, - 300
/.
H9
73 ]
in
*5
25
5
j.
:3
3
6
8
d.
o
6
lit
Cafh in hand to anfwer inci-
dental expences,
582 :
[i
5t
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. I. s.
Rent, - - 119
Seed, - - 42 10
Labour, - ' 138 6
Sundries, - - - 25 8
d.
o
nf
S 4 nt
Pro-
( 3*3 )
Produce. I. s. d.
The fame, - - 402 16 o
Expences, - - 3^5 4 **T
77 I* 4-
Intereft of ftock, A*?* 2920
.48 9 <4
The reader cannot be too often reminded
that there is fome degree of fallacy in the
remainders of fuppofed profit, at the bot-
tom of the gentleman's accounts : and this
of fuch a kind as not to admit of remedy,
from the impoffibility of reducing it to cal-
culation. The farmer, as before explained,
has fo many advantages in common huf-
bandry over the gentleman, that it is very
improbable he fhould be. equalled in pro-
duce at fo fmall an additional expence as
32 per cent, in one article only. However,
the reader may eafily judge that the remain-
ing 48 /. may very quickly difappear, if the
management is not equal to the farmer's ; .
if the gentleman is cheated or if he em-
ploys a bailey, it will foon be fwallowed
up.
Y 2 COM-
( 3*4 )
COMPARISON. /. s. d.
Gentleman's ftock 582,11 5^
Farmer's ditto, * 5.38 3. 57
Superiority of the latter, 44 8 o
Profit of the farmer, f "94 I t
Ditto of the gentleman, - 48 9 07
Superiority of the former, 45* 1 2 o
Farmer's profit per cent. 22 12 o
Gentleman's ditto, - 13 4 o
Superiority of the former, .9 8 o
This ftate of the cafe fhews fufficiently,
that a gentleman, if he would rival the far-
mer upon fuch a farm as is here ftated,
muft have recourfe to fome.thing beyond the
- J
common practice.
I fhall not multiply cafes beyond neceflity,
but if I was to forbear to throw each farm
in o different views, I mould fail in one
etTential part of my defign; thefc fheets
would then be of ufe to the common farmer
fcbne: It is my bufmefs to {hew the gen-
tleman, as well as the farmer, how he may .
f/Tdifpofe of his money. Here follows
* Hoiifekeeping cL'du#ed, as before remarked.
} Ditto added.
--'-'-^ 3 acaU
a calculation of another way of diipofmg
of this fum of money, which, if he executes
withTpirit as well as, prudence, will pay
him much better than -the common one.
But as this hufbandry which I am going to
propofe ^requires a larger Hock propor-
tioned fo the land than the preceding^ I
fhall calculate for only 50 acres, which wilt
amount to as large a i'um as the farmer's
100. The fyftem 1 aim at is the culture
of lucerne and cabbages ; the one to feed
cattle with in fummer, and the other in
winter.
I fhould premife, left I "be fufpc&ed of
digreffing into imaginary -hufbandry, that
I fhall fuppofe nothing but what has really
been executed ; I fhall more than once wifh
to fubftitute a ftrong idea, iilftead of per-
haps weaker facts> but 4t muft not be:-. I
fhall, however, pay due reverence to the
maxim What has been^ may be. ' \" J ^
- \
T T -
. A - ,
Y 3
( 3*6 )
Variation the fourth.
50 Acres, all arable, the foil clay or loam\
upon improved principles.
Stock.
Rent, &c. I s. d.
Rent at i /. . 59
Ty the, at 4 s. - i o
Rates, &c. 4 s. - 10
Implements.
2 Carts, - . 20 o o
A Plough, - - i ii 6
Harrows, - 200
Roller, - - i 10 o
Harnefs for 2 horfes, 300
Screen, forks, rakes,
lines, &c. - 4
Sacks, 2
Dairy furniture, 10
2 Horfes,
12 Cows,
Carry over, jf . 90 00114 i 6
12 Beafts,
i 327 )
Brought over, . 90 00114 i (.
12 Beafts, - 60 o o
3 Sows, - -300
153 o c
Seed and tillage.
Four earths, on ia4-
acres of wheat-
land, - . 10 o o
Seed, - - 7 10 o
Sowing, - ^063
Water-furrowing, o 12 6
Two earths for 12^-
acresof fpringcorn, 4 6 o
Seed, - - 650
Sowing, - - o 3 i
Water-furrowing, 063
47 Acres of clover-
feed, and fowing, o 19 IT
8 Acres of cabbage
feed, - 140
31 i* 3
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear
and tear, .5 o o
12 Loads of ftraw, 900
14 o o
Carryover, .312 13 9
Y 4 Labour.
-. Brought over, .312 13 g
Labour.
J?ive earths on 8 acres
of cabbage land, '.2 o o
Pigging the feed-bed
and fowing, - 030
Planting at 5 s. 2 o Q
Jour horfe hoeings, at
6 d. - 0160
Two hand hoeings, at
Ss. -* - 340
Cutting the cabbages,
and carting home at
5*. 200
five earths pn 1 2 acres
fallow, 5- 300
Weeding 127 acres of
wheat, - - o 12 6
Heaping and harvefting
at 6 s. r- - 3 i. o
fhrafhing the crop,
27 qrs. per acre, at
2 s. 320
flowing and harv^ftr-
Jng, 121. acres of
firing-corn, at 4 ^ 2 10 o
Carry overj .23 2 6 312 13 9
Thrihing
( 3*9 )
Brought over .23 26312139
Thrafhing, 4 quarters
per acre, at I s. 2 i6~o
Chopping and raking-
124- acres of wheat
ftubble, at i j. 6 </; o 18 9
Carting ditto to the
farm-yard, - 076
Mowing, and making,
and carting 2 acres
of clover, - 140
Ditching 50 perches, at
i s. - - 2 10 o
Carting ditch earth on
to land, 1 50 loads, 13
loads a day of 3 men, 2 o
Carting dung out of
the farm-yard, i CO
J * arr,*it<>wf fns rigtiiw
loads, 12 a day of 3
men, fcfij^i <*t 7*1 2' o,p
Turning it over, o 12 6
Carting home faggots, o I 6
Hollow ditching 12 ^{J
acres of fallow, 32
inches deep, 4 inches
Carryover, .35 9 3 12 J 3 9
-% wide
{ 330 )
Brought over, .35 69 312 13 9
wide at bottom, and
1 8 at top Digging,
filling up, materials,
carting, &c. at 9 d.
a perch, 80 per a-
cre, 960, - 36 o o
Sundry fmall articles
of work, - 300
-74 69
27 per cent* * 19-11 Q
93 *7 9
ii 6
The defign of this farm is to have it re-
gularly cropped with 12, acres of lucerne,
8 of cabbages, 1 5 of clover, 1 2 '- of wheat,
and I2T of fpring corn: The 12 acres
which are this firft year under fallow are
defigned for lucerne the next fpring ; but
as that vegetable is by no means in perfec-
tion the firft (or even the fecond) year, I
have fuppofed under half the ftock of cattle
now bought: The 12 cows it will main-
tain the firft year very well ; 4 acres of
cabbages will (with the afliftance of the
ftraw) winter-feed that number. The iq
4 beafts
( 33' )
beafls charged are to be fatted upon the
other 4 acres.
As fo large a flock of cattle are kept, it
is neceflary to purchafe fome flraw every
year; I have fuppofed 12 loads, but the
more is bought, the more dung will be
raifed, and confequently the greater crops
of all forts. The produce of this firfl year
will be as follows : /. s. d.
I2f Acres of wheat, - 5 o o
9 Ditto of barley, ^ a-d'efT- 2 7
12 Fat beafls, - - 84 o o
. 161 o o
The fecond year the land will be thus
cropped in the proper order, and the ac-
count fland thus :
Exjpences.
Rent, &c.
i a Cows, - - -
8 Beafls,
3 Sows, -
Seed, i2| acres of wheat feed,
Ditto 124 fpring corn,
Ditto 5 of clover,
Ditto 12 of lucerne,
Carryover, . 191 70
Labour.
( 33* )
Brought overj -191 7 *>
Labour.
One earth on ^ acres
of clover land, ..056
Three ditto 6n 74.
flubble, *- 126
Sowing, - o 6 3
Water-furrowing, o 12 6
Weeding, reaping,
harvefting, and
thrashing, as be--
fore, - 79*>
Two earths on 12^-
acres of fpring-
corrt, - l^o
Sowing^ * o 3 14.
Water-furrowing,* 063
Mowing, harveftV
ing, and thraih-
ing, - - '5 oO
Chopping, raking,
and carting ilub-
ble, - i6 5
Mowing,making and
carting clover, 140
Carryover, . 19 o 44. 191 7 6
Ditching
( 333 )
Brought over, . 19 o 4! 191 7 o
Ditching and carting
the earth, and
mixing dung, 7,2 6 ,rti>iV lur*
Carting faggots, o i -6
Sundry fmall articles
of work, &... 3 o o
Labour as before on
8 acres of cab-
bages, 10 3 ;
Two earths on 'ife ~
acres of lucerne
land, % 140 '>^\ ^ c ^
Harrowing, " "~- cT 3 9
Drilling : The 'ex-
pence by hand-
work would be fo
great, that theonly
way of -effecUng
this, work, is by .
buying a drill-
plough, 8 o
Re-fold after
fowing, 400
- 4 o o
Carryover, -44 J 4 4>- 191 7 o
f 334 )
Brought over, . 44 14 4^ 19! 7 o
Labour, drilling at
6 d. per acre, o 60
Four hand-hoeings,
at 6 s. - 1480
Cutting three times,
at i s. 6 d. - 2140
Raking together,
loading and cart-
ing home, at i s.
6d. - 2 14 o
. 64 16 4^
2 7 /tfr cf A - 17 30
8 1 19 4*.
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, wear and tear, and
ftraw, - 14 o o
Produce.
i2j- Acres of wheat, at 5 /.
9 Acres of barley, -
12 Cows, -
8 Fat beads,
Expences,
( 33* )
Expences,
Produce,
Intereftoffiock .-'i
.108 844-
O i, 1 , r
This firft year or the lucerne- being thus
carried through with good and fufficient
culture, upon the moderate allowance of
maintaining a cow per acre, will the next
yield a fuffieient produce for 2 cows and
fatting a hei&r befides, per acre. The 8
acres of 1 tfabbages (which I fuppofe to im-
prove for fome time) will alfo winter-feed
(with fhe afMance of the ftraw) the cows,
and fat befides a heifer or fleer, per acre,
to the improvement of 40 s. The account
of the third year will ftand thus :
Expences. L s. d.
$ent, &'c; **> -? - ft ". .70 o o
^ Beafts, - r ^ r : . 40 o o
f2 Heifers, - 36 o o"
Seed for 1 2f acres of wheat ;
1 2 A f fpring corn ; 5 of
clover"; and 8 of cab-
bages, 15 19 o*
Carryover, . 161 190
Labour
( 336 )
Brought over, . 161 19 o
Labour as before on
every articje but lu-
cerne, - . 39 7 4 t
Three hand-hoeings, 10 16 o
Four horfe-hoeings, I 40
Cutting, raking, load-
ing, and carting, at
3 s. five times, - 9 o o
. 6~77t
$j per cent. - 16 a o
- 76 9 4f
Sundry articles, - - 14 o o
. 25_2__8 jt
'Produce. I. ,. d.
127 Acres of wheat, 62 10 o
9 Of barley, 27 o o
24 Cows, - 1 20 o o
8 Fat beafts, - 56 o o
12 Ditto heifers, - 60 o o
325 jo o
Expences, - - 252 8 44.
Intereft of flock,
Pro-fit,
la
( 337 )
In the fourth and fucceflive years fome
variations mould be made, for allowing for
the improvement of the crops. Thd lu-
cerne will be much better ; confidering that
fo large an expence in hand-hoeing, befides
horfe- hoeing is allowed; and remem-
bering that the foil is a dry found rich clay,
the putre folum, which this vegetable de-
lights in, it would be a low eftimation to
affign to each acre the feeding three cows
through the fummer, and efpecially as
many lucerne plantations, now in being
throughout different parts of the kingdorm
do actually yield a much greater produce;
yet, to keep within bounds, and lay thefe
calculations open to as few objections as
poffible, I (hall fuppofe the regular produce ta
be feeding two cows, and fatting two fmall
heifers, which is not equal to the feeding
three cows.
The cabbages alfo, as the culture im-
proves, and the manure increafes with the
cattle, will become annually more bene-
ficial ; the wonders that have been done in
fome parts of England with this vegetable,
VOL. I. Z are
( 333 )
are too much beyond any thing in the com-
mon hufbandry to allow me to fuppofe any
imaginary gentleman fully to equal. Cab-
bages have been cultivated over whole fields
in Yorkfhire, &c. up to 30 L and even
40 /. value. I have, in experiments not
fo large, carried their value to 10 /. and
12 I. per acre ; nor can I eftimate them
here at lefs than I o /. per acre ; the rich-
nefs of the foil, the great expence of drain-
ing, notwithftanding any former drains^
and the thorough manuring the cabbage
land gets every year. ,1 mail calculate the
8 acres of cabbages to winter-feed, with the'
aijiflance of the itraw, the 24 cows ; which
is three cows per acre; but it is well known
that an acre of cabbages will winter (with .
plenty of ftraw) 6 or 8 cows, for lean cattle
are t only to have ftated portions every day,
inftead of hay : I mail further fuppofe each
acre of cabbages to fat 2 beafts of 5 /. value
to 2 /. improvement. The clover is partly
provided for the young hogs to graze in, to
bring them to a proper fize for felling
advantageoufly at market. It is almoft
furprifmg the number a. fmgle acre will fo
feed
( 339 )
feed. The following and every fucceffive
year's account will ftand thus:
Ex fences, 1, j, d.
Rent, &c, - -/- jt" . 70 oo
16 Beafts, 'V- '~"]*~ '."* 80 o o
24 Heifers, - - 72 o o
Seed for wheat, fpring-corn,
clover, and cabbages, .^.rV J 5 *9
Labour^ T - - 7^ 9 44-
Sundry articles, ,r M * ! 4
- - __i i - -
jC- 3^8 8 44
124. Acres of wheat, - ^. 62 10 o
9 Of barley, v ^r - 27 o o
24 Cows, "' - MV - 120 o o
16 Fat beafts, - 11300
24 Ditto heifers, ;^ - J20 o
441 10 o
Expences, v*''.' r $ ^. 328 8 4!
U3 * 74-
Intereft of ftock, j ; . 29 2 o
Profit, - ^'
General Account,
Firft flock, '_* \ -4 6 * 6
Carry over, . 406 i 6
Z ^ Produce
( 340 )
Brought over, . 406 i 6
Produce of the iirft year,
below the expence of
the fecond, - - 126 6 47
Produce of the fecond be-
low the expence of the
third, &c. 46 1 8 4^
Produce of the third year
below the expence of the
reft, - - 2 18 44.
Total requifite to flock this
farm, > . 582 4 74.
Which fum pays 197. 8 s. per cent.
COMPARISON.
Gentleman's ftock in a com-
mon farm of 100 acres, . 582 u 5^-
A farmer's ditto, . 538 3 57
Gentleman's on an improv-
ed farm of 50 acres, - . 583 47^-
Profit of the farmer from
100 acres, - . 94 j 07
Ditto of the gentleman, . 48 9 oj-
Ditto of ditto from 50 acres, . 84 2 y-J-
The farmer's profit per cent.
on 1 00 acres- - . 22 12 o
The
( 341 )
The gentleman's ditto, JT. 13 4 o
The ditto on 50 acres, J 9 80
Upon this companion, it is in general to
be remarked, that the {mail farm is, in the
hands of the gentleman, almoft as advan-
tageous as the larger one in thofe of the
farmer, which is a great difference ; for if
the gentleman, by means of thefe improve-
ments, gains fo large a produce as to pay
all the difadvantages he is charged with in
comparifon with the farmer, and yet fecure
a profit nearly equal to his, and at the
fame time effects this upon half the num-
ber of acres, whereby his attention is
contracted, his trouble much leflened, and
his whole bufmefs fimplified ; if he can
do this, the method, undoubtedly, is much
worthy attention.
I have not here proved that this is pof-
fible, becaufe I am not at prefent regiilering
experiments; but I draw up thefe calcu-
lations on the foundation of experiments
which I have either made myfelf, or been
acquainted with of others. All that is
here luppofed has undoubtedly been ex-
ceeded in real practice.
Z 3 One
( 34* )
Orie circumftance, at leaft, is in favour of
thefe eftimates ; the reader no where meet&
with marvellous relations of profit, by which
a fortune is at once to be made from pof-
fefling a few hundreds: I by no means
profefs to teach any one how to make a
great eftate in a few years : all fuch pre-
tences are mere quackery. Whoever expects
to make a fortune in farming from a fmall
capital, is but in a dream. Fortunes may
certainly be made in it ; and as large as in
any bufmefs, but I much queftion whether
the fiock necefTary is not as great as for a
merchant to do it in commerce. But of
this more hereafter.
The moft that is made in thefe three
farms is 22 per cent. now this muft be
reckoned but moderate profit in a bufmefs
wherein fo fmall a fum as perhaps 100 /. is
the capital in trade. Branches of traffic, in
which a fmall -capital maintains a family^
muft have large profits^ and 20 per cent, is
certainly a confiderable profit, take every
profeffion and bufmefs in one view ; but by
no means fo, if only fuch as I have deicribed
are taken into the account. In my pri-
vate opinion, no lefs profit than 30 per cent.
3 fhould
( 343 )
fhbuld be thought, in agriculture, great, or
even fufficient. There are no infurances
in farming*
It appears from the preceding comparifpn*'
that if gentlemen think of equalling the
profit of the farmer, it muft be by ex-
pending as large a fum of money upon half
the land, and exerting his attention upon
fuch improved crops as yield a much greater
profit than any common ones.
Variation theffth.
One hundred acres, half graft, and half
arable, the foil clay or loam.
Stock.
r> "" x t i ro *rf"^ *
Rent, or. /. s. d.
loo Acres, atly/. . 85 o o
Tythe^ at 4 J. ' ^ *fr- ; - 17 o o
Ratesj at 4 s. 17 o o
119 o o
Implements.
2 Carts* &|O- ^.20 o o
A plough, i ii 6
Harrows, - - i? 10 o
Roller, V *p - 2 o o
Harnefs for 3 horfes, 3 10 o
Carry over, . 29 n 6 119 o o
Z 4 Screen,
( 344 )
Brought over, . 29 11 6 119 o o
Screen, buihel, forks,
rakes, lines, &c. &c.
&c. - 3 10 o
Sacks, - - 300
Dairy furniture, - 300
39 * 6
Livejlock.
3 Horfes, * . 45 oo
5 Cows, ** 50 o o
i Sow, * ' i o o
5 Steers, - 35 o o
55 Heifers, ^J 165 o o
296 o o
Seed and tillage.
4 Earths, on 127 acres
of wheat land, . IO
Seed, ;;* o . ^ -""_' 7100
Sowing, * ~ 063
Water-furrowing, o 12 6
Two earths, on 12 1 acres
of fpring-corn land, 500
Seed, - 650
Sowing, - - o 3 it
Water-furrowing, 063
Carryover, . 30 3 if 454 i 6
1 2~ Acres
( 345
Brought over, .30
lat Acres of clover,
and fowing,
Harrowing,
Two earths on ist
acres of bean-land,
Seed,
Sowing,
Water-furrowing,
Labour.
If the farmer works
conftantly, as he may
be fuppofed to do,
upon only 50 arable
acres, this will a-
mount to the fame
fum as N$ i. ch. xviii.
or 23 / 3 * 4t <!
but we will fuppofe
his only 15 /. 33 3 4t
Add for additional ma-
nuring, - 4 To o
37 13 4f
Carryover, jC-535 1 3
Sundry
( 346 )
Brought over, . 535 13 o
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, - . 4 10 o
Houfe-keeping, 20 o
Market expences, 200
-- ~ . 26 io o
5 6 2 3 o
The ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences.
Rent, &c. - . 119 o
55 Heifers and 5 fleers, 200 o o
Seed for 127 acres of wheat,
127 of fpring-corn and
clover; and 1 27 of treans, 21 50
Labour, - 37 13 4 f
Sundries, - - - 26 io o
. / c( r
'404 8 47
Produce.
127 Acres of wheat, - . 6$ io o
9 Of barley, - - 27 o o
127 Beans, - - . - 50 o o
5 Cows, - . - 25 o o
Carry over, .
( 347 )
I r : ' Brought over, . 164 10 O
5 Fat fleers, - :^i 55 o a
55 Ditto heifers, ; *.: 275 o o
.494 10 o
Expences, - - - 404 8 4t
9 * 7t
Intereft of ftock, - 28 3 o
Profit, - - - - 61 19 7t
In the Hocking of this farm I have in
part conducted myfelf with an eye to the
50 acres once before inferted; but made
fuch variations, as the different fubftance
of the men, and the manure from more
cattle made necefTary. The 5 fteers I fup-
pofe kept through the winter with the cows
upon ftraw, not only for increafmg the
quantity of manure, but alfo for the advan-
tage of having them ready for the fpring-
grafs ; and if the farmer lies advantageoufly
for buying a little hay or a few turnips for
them, to get them into flefh, they will pay
the better-} and it is needlefs to charge fuch
expences, as they are quite. uncertain, and
the return will be in proportion the larger.
Ageri-
( 348 )
A gentleman's profit, on fuch a farm as
this, muft be ftated differently. His ac-
count will fland thus :
Stock.
/. /. a.
Rent, &c.
119 o o
Implements,
39 * 6
Live flock,
206 o o
Seed and tillage,
43 18 it
Labour ; before, 52
13 4t
27 per cent. - 14
(\(\ T A \-
uu 13 4^
Sundries,
6 10 o
57 1 3 o
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences.
Rent, &c. i
. 119 o o
S$ Heifers, and 5 fleers,
200
Seed, ^-ictciJn: .
- 21 5 o
Labour, * "&*
66 13 47-
Sundries,
6 10 o
/ O r
Produce*
The fame,
.-494 10 o
Expences,
- 413 8 4t
81 i 7t
Intereft of flock,
20 13
Profit, ; :; v' -
>C- 60 8 7 t
COM-*
( 349 ;)
COMPARISON.
Gentleman's ftock, . 571 30
Farmer's ditto, - -. 542 3 o
Superiority of the latter, . 29 o o
Produce of both equal.
Profit per cent, of the farmer, ".19 n o
Ditto of the gentleman, - 14 30
Superiority of the latter, .5 80
N 6.
Variation thefixth.
One hundred acres all grafs^ the foil clay qr
loam*
Stock.
Rent, &c.
Rent of 100 acres, at
20 s. - . 100 o o
Tythe, at 4 s. 20 o o
Rates, &c. &c. at 4 s. 20 o o
140 o o
Implements.
Onefmall three wheel-
ed cart, - . '6 6 o
Harnefs for one horfe, i i o o
Dairy furniture, - i 10 o
Spades, fhovels, &c. o 15 o
10 i o
Carry over, . 150 i o
Live
( 35 )
Brought over, . 150 i o
Livejlock.
1 Horfe, - . 12 o o
2 Cows, - ,- 10 o o
i Sow, - - o 15 o
i25Homebredheifers,375 o o
Jo Steers, - - 70 o o
467 1$ o
Labour.
Ditching 200 perches,
at 3 s. for digging,
carting the earth on to
land, and fpreading it, 30 o o
Mowing, making, and
carting 3 acres of hay, i 50
o c , .i02
.PS 3i 5
The farmer earns f 10 o o
2150
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, - i o o
Houfe-keeping, - 20 o o
Market expenees, - i 10 o
22 10 o
.661 n o
The
( 35i }
The ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Kent, &c. 140 o o
125 Heifers and 10 fteers, 445. o
Labour, 3<wL'.7<sn:ul n't 3*11. 21 5 o
Sundries,-. - -~ . ;-# _22 10 o
Produce. ^t. d.
125 Fat heifers, ^^. % ... 625 o Q
jo Ditto fleers, - - - 1 10 o o
# C0-WS^ C -Jr.\ - - 10 O O
oij L> 745 o o,
116 3 o
Interefl of flock, ^fa+tg* 33 J Q
Profit, - - s ^C 83 20
This profit is .confiderable ; but it does
not ar.ife from any exaggeration of pro-
duce ; for fo cgniiderable a. breadth and
change of paflure as 100 acres allow, will
enable it to carry a greater proportionable
flock than a fmaller quantity of land. The
chief bufinefs of the horfe is the carting the
ditch earth on to the land : that work I
fuppofe put out to th labourer to -dig the
ditch, and cart andjpread the earth, having
the ufe of the horfe at 3 /. a perch, the
fame
( 35* )
fame ditch as already defcnhed. This is a
method I have followed with little three
wheeled carts, and found it very beneficial
employment for an odd horfe. The gentle-
man 'saccountjin this farm, willbe as follows.
Stock. L s. d.
Rent, &c. - - 140 o o
Implements, - 10 i o
Live ftock, ' ~- 467 15 o
Labour; before, . 31 50
27 percent. - 870
39 12 o
Sundry articles, f -. f ^ \ - 2 10 o
. 659 18 o
The ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
TZxpences.
Rent, - . 140 o o
125 Heifers, and lofteers, 445 o o
Labour, npU#E - - 39 12 o
Sundries, - 2 10 o
.627 2~o
Produce.
The fame,
Expences,
Jntereft of (lock, - ot^-^^ ^^
Profit, aw^if. refUx- ^.4 19 o
This
( 353 )
This profit is beyond doubt an object
with many gentlemen : To increafe an in-
come 85 /. a year, from the employment of
fuch a fum as 660 /. is no trifle to a gentle-
man of fmall fortune: It is true, he is
under fo many difadvantages in buying and
felling ftock, that deductions may be made
in the reader's mind, but cannot be by me
eftimated ; however they are not one tenth
of thofe that mould be made on all arable
farms. The difference between them is
very great: In cultivating 100 acres of
grafs, the trouble and attention are fcarcely
to be mentioned, and the profit confider-
able; but, upon that quantity of arable
land, both are endlefs ; the profit lefs,
more hazardous, and open to more deduo
tions. Surely this fhould caution gentle-
men from having much to do with the
plough in common hufbandry.
Comparifon. L s. d.
The gentleman's ftock, 659 18 o
The farmer's, - - 641 no
Superiority of the latter, . . 1 8 7 o
Produce equal.
VOL. I. A a The
( 354 )
The farmer's profit, raw c-i 103 20
The gentleman's, - ?- 84 ig o
Superiority of the former, .18 3 o
The farmer's profit per cent. 21 i o
The gentleman's, - 17 15 o
Superiority of the former, .360
This difference is no confiderable matter;
an equality in common hufbandry that can
no where happen but in grafs farms; and
1 7 per cent, is no trifle for any gentleman
ever to make of farming.
N^ 7.
Variation thefeventh.
Eighty acres, all arable, the foil light enough
for turnips*
Stock,
Rent, &c.
Of 80 acres at 18 s.. 72 o o
Tythe, at 4 s. 1480
Rates, &c. at 4 s. 14 80
. 100 i 6 o
Carryover, . 100 16 o
Implements .
( 355 )
Brought over,
Implements.
One waggon *, -25
Two carts, 20
Two ploughs, *- 3
Pair of harrows, ~ 2
Two rollers, ; - 3
Harnefs for four horfes, 6
Sundry fmall articles," 6
qo Sacks, - 3
Dairy furniture, 2
. 100 16 o
3
I0"0
o o
o o
7n 15 6
Stock.
4 Horfes, - - .60 o o
2 COWS, - ^ - 10 |b^"
I Sow, - - - -""' o 15 o
loo Sheep, at 16 s. 80 o o
30 Heifers or fteers, 150 o o
Carry over, -472 40
* I pafs many variations from Jeeming rules, without
explaining the reafons ; it would be endlefs : 80 acres
may be cultivated with 2 horfes and 2 carts: Here I fup-
pofe '4, and a waggon befides ; but there is no contradiflion
in this, if we make the a/additional horfes work well for
their living ; andviewing the fame objefl .from difFeren c '
points, we mall the better difcover every light and {hade
of k.
A a 2 Seed
( 356 ]
Brought over, .472 40
Seed and tillage.
One earth on 20 acres
of wheat land, . 4 o o
Seed, --- - 13 o o
Sowing, - - - - o 50
Harrowing, i/-*^ I o o
Water-furrowing, o 10 o
Three earths on 20 a-
cres of fpring-corn
land, - 12 o o
Seed, - - - - 10 o o
Sowing, - - -- o 50
Harrowing, - I o o
Water-furrowing, 050
20 Acres of clover-
feed l ' J i" ' " - .' 4 o o
Sowing, :-_' .* 050
Two earths on 20 acres
of turnjp land fallow, 800
53 10
Labour.
One earth on 20 acres
of wheat,
Sowing, - - ; -
Harrowing,
Water- furrowing,
Carry over,
Weeding
( 357 )
Brought over, .200 525 14 o
Weeding, - I o o
Reaping and harveft-
ing, at 6 s. - 600
Thrafhing, 3 qrs. per
acre, at 2 s. -600
Carrying out 10 qrs. at
a time, I day of 2
men, - - o 12 o
Three earths on 20
acres of fpring-corn, 300
Sowing, - -050
Harrowing, - 050
Water-furrowing, 050
Rolling, atJL< - o o 10
Mowing and harvefling
at4-r. - - 400
Thrafhing the crop, 4
qrs. per acre, at i s, 4 o o
Carrying out 12 acres
of barley, 4 qrs. per
acre, 48 qrs. 1 2 at a
time, i day of 2 men, 080
Sowing 20 acres of
clover, - - 050
Carry over, . 28 o 10 525 14 o.
A n
A a 3 Four
( 358 )
Brought over, .28 o 10 525 14 o
Four earths more on
20 acres of turnip-
land, - - 400
Four harrowings, o 68
Sowing, c T; ;> - o 5 o
Hoeing twice, 7 s. 7 o o
Drawing the turnips
and carting them,
at 7 s. 6 d. - 710 o
Chopping and raking
20 acres of wheat
ftubble, at i s. 6 d. i 10 o
Carting ditto to farm-
yard, 3 days work
of 4 men, - 080
Mowing and making .
4 acres clover into
hay twice, - I 12. Q
Loading, carting, and
flacking, 3 days
work cf 6 men, at
i j. 4 d. 140
Ditching 100 perch,
at i J. - 5 . o .o
Carryover, 5*6 16 6 525 14 o
Carting
( 359 )>
Brought over, '. 56 16 6 525 14. o
Carting 3 loads of
earth per perch into
farm-yard, 15 days,
at 6 j. 3 d, 4 J 3 9
12 Loads of dung
each on 36 head of
cattle, or 43 2 loads;
mixing thefe and the
ditch earth under
them together, 732
loads, at i d. - 3 I o
Pilling and fpreading,
37 days, at4-r. 3 </. 7 7
Carting home faggots
from the ditch, - o a o
Cutting 40 bufhels of
chaff per week for
2 months, 320 bu-
fhels, at L d. - 0134
80 Days employed in
bringing manure
from the neareft
town, i load a day
of 2 men, ^w:', 8 o o ^
Carryover, . 80 13 7 525 14
A a 4 Sundry
Brought over, . 80 13 7 525 14 o
Sundry fmall articles of
work: a boy at 6 d. a
day, 9 o d
89 13 7
Suppofe the farmer
earns, - 15 o o
74 13 7
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, .2 80
Wear and tear, - 15 o o
Houfe-keeping, - 20 o o
Market expences, - 300
80 Loads of manure,
at 5 s. - - 20 o o
30 Loads of flraw, 20 o o
Cafh in hand to anfwer
incidental expences, 50 o o
130 8 o
73 i5~7
This fum is in every refpect a fufficient
one to flock the farm in queftion ; and is
indeed fo large from having four horfes and
their attendant expences, that the crops
muft be very large to anfwer it: There
never is, however, any danger in real prac-
tice,
tice, of the land not paying any expences
(in reafon) of tillage and manure. This
farm is excellently managed: In the firft
place, it is thrown into the moft advantage-
ous of all common courfes for light foils .
viz. i. Turnips; 2. barley; 3. clover ;
4. wheat. The turnip fallow is ploughed
fix times ; and, after that crop, thrice more
for the barley: Befides this tillage, the
manuring is very confiderable. 732 loads
of farm-yard compoft, well mixed toge-
ther ; 432 of dung, and 300 of earth, that
has laid all the winter under the litter, to
catch and retain all the urine of the cattle :
this compoft I fuppofe every year to be
fpread on the turnip land, being juft 36
loads per acre for it ; and a noble drefling
it certainly is, and fufficient without affift-
ance to keep the whole farm in great heart,
as all of it receives this manuring once in
four years. But, befides this, we have 80
waggon loads of town dung every year;
which muft be fuppofed mortar rubbifh,
afhes, horfe, cow, and hog dung, and every
load probably a compoft of moft of them ;
or, in other words, admirable ftuff. Thefe
80 loads I fuppofe fpread on the clover land
for
( 36s }
for wheat, at the rate of 4 loads per acre,
which for that crop (fo apt to lodge if the
land is very rich) will in this courfe of ma-
nagement be highly fufficient : and cer-
tainly, upon the whole, we may venture to
pronounce, that our farmer is as fare of a
crop as any one can be. We now proceed
to the j
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. I. s. d.
Rent, &c. - - 100 16 o
100 Sheep, Jkie $ ; +^fc 86 o o
30 Heifers or fleers, *$&# 150 o o
Seed for 20 acres of wheat,
20 of fp ring-corn, 20 of
clover, and 20 of turnips, - 2610 o
Labour, 74 1 3 7
Sundry articles, - - 80 8 o
"~
Produce.
20 Acres of wheat, 4 qrs. /. s. d.
per acre, 80 qrs. at 40 s. - 160 o o
100 Sheep, 160 o o
30 Fat heifers, 240 o o
2 Cows, - 10 o o
Carry over, . 570 o o
Brought over, .570 o o
14 Acres of barley, 5 qrs.^r
acre, 70 qrs. at 16 s. - 56 o o
.. 626 o o
Expences, - 518 7 7
." I0 7 I2 5
Deduct intereft of flock, - 36 10 o
Profit, - . 7i 25
Thofe crops are all large, but let not the
reader compare them with common ones?
until he finds a farm as \yell cultivated
until he finds a farmer worth .700 /. upon a
farm of 80 acres of land. Let it not be
from hence concluded, that this is the moft
profitable method of difpofmg -of 700 /. ;
that point is- not fo much the bufinefs of
each feparate calculation, as the comparifon
of all at the end of each chapter. To have
given only one eflimate, would have been
a mere ..ipfe. dixiti I ihfert many, for the
reader to judge between them as well as
myfelf. The gentleman's "account of this
farm is as follows."
-1-. / &&*//</ f -,,
' ^ MI* ''''** p r r I r* ' '^ '*' '
9 'Stock.
( 364 )
Stock. I. s. d.
Rent, &c. - - loo 16 o
Implements, - . - 70 13 o
Live flock, - 300 15 o
Seed and tillage, - - 53 10 o
Labour, - . 89 13 7
27 per cent. 24 6 o
9 7
Sundry articles, - iis 8 o
75Q * 7
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. /. s. d.
Rent, &c. - ' '- 1 * 100 1 6 o
loo Sheep and 30 beafts, - 230 o o
Seed, - p-j^- - - 26 10 o
Labour, - - ."*.*' 1 1 3 1 9 7
Sundry articles, - 'PSf '' 60 8 o
>C-53i i3 ~7
Produce. 1. s. d.
The fame, - - 626 o o
Expences, - - 531 *3 7
94 6 5
Intereft, - - 37 10 o
Profit, - - . 56 1 6 5
No gentleman has reafon to find any
fault with fuch a farm as this ; which pays
4 5
( 365 )
5 per cent, for his money, and leavea a
profit of near 57 /. a year. But I fhould
here repeat my old warning ; not to have
him too confident in thefe common arable
farms ; for his buying and felling to fb
large an amount, as cheap and as dear as
the common farmer, is very equivocal in
reality.
COMPARISON. /. s. d.
Gentleman's flock, - . 750 i 7
Farmers, - - 710 15 7
Superiority of the latter, . 39 6 o
Produce equal.
Farmer's profit, - - 91 a 5
Gentleman's^ "' - > - ,\ o 5616
Superiority of the former, .34 6 o
The farmer's money pays
him profit per cent. j 7 j 7 o
The gentleman's, - if? 10 o
Superiority of the former, " . $ "7" o
N Q 8.
Variation the eighth.
Eighty acres, fixty grafs and twenty arable,
the Jirfi foil heavy, the latter light.
This farm I purpofe fetching, upon
the plan of appropriating the whole of it
to
to fatting cattle, to difcover if a greater pro-
fit does not attend that kind of grazing,
which is carried on through the winter as
well as the rummer upon the fame cattle,
than upon that which is done only in fun>-~
mer.
\"^Htbck.
Rent) fee. I. s. d.
&entof 80 acres, at I /. i: "-^ 80 o o
Tythe, at 4 s. -- 1600
Rates, &c. at 4 s: - 1600
.112 O O
Livejlock.
Two horfes, .24 o o
30 Oxen at 10 /. 300 o o
o o
Implements. n a ? i
One cart, - . 9 o o
Harnefs, /- - 400
i Plough, - i ii 6
Pair of harrows, -pA
Roller, i
Sundry fmall articles, i
IQ II
Carry over, , 455 1 1 6
Brought over, . 45-5 ijt[ 6
Seed and Tillage. -uniUM"
Two earths on 20
acres, - .800 :0 -;\ r> a . ?
Seed, for 20 acres tur-
nips, - o i o o -
8 10 o
Labour.
Four earth.s more on 20
acres, - C1 ^- .-4 o
Harrowing, > ' 050
Sowing, - * 050
Hoeing twice, *>^ 7 o o
Drawing and carting
home, - -7 10 o
Attendance upon 30
head of cattle, I o o
Ditching 100 perches, 5'-'- o o
Carting the earth, 300
loads into yard ; 1 2
a day, 25 days 4*. 3 d. 5 63
Turning over 3 84 loads
of dung, and 300
loads, of earth, 684,
at i d. ,\- 2170
Carry over, . 33 33 464 i 6
Filling
Brought over, .33 3 3 464 I 6
Filling and fpreading
684 loads, i a a day,
at 3 s. a fcore, 520
57 days driv-
ing, - - 3 ii 7
8 13 7
Carting home faggots, 020
. 41 '8 io
Farmer earns, - 15 o o
36 18 io
Sundry articles^
Shoeing, - -".1*40
Wear and tear, - .2100
Houfe-keeping, 20 o o
Market expeHces, - 2 o o
20 Loads of barley, or
oat ftraw,
40 Loads of ftubble,
5 Ton of hay,
6 Qrs. of oats,
CaQi in hand.
15
16
IO
3
40
m~mmm
Q
O O
120
o o
no 6 o
. 601 6 4
AN-
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. I. s. d.
Rent, &c. iif? o o
30 Oxen, - 300 o o
Turnip feed, ,- o 10 o
Labour, "'- 26 18 10
Sundry articles,
Produce.
30 Fat oxen,
Expences,
Intereft of ftock,
Profit,
70 o o
509 T 4 I Q
/. s. d.
600 o o
509 14 10
90 5 2
30 i o
- 6 4 2
The reader doubtlefs remarks, that in
this account there are variations not found
in any of the preceding ; this farm required
fuch : for inftance, it would by no means
anfwer to this farmer, to throw his fields
into a various courfe for the fake of raifmg
his own oats, which are no great quantity,
as his horfes are not near employed; nor
would it be worth the trouble and confufion
to alter fo equal and correfponding an
arrangement of the farm for raifing five
tons of hay : That quantity is not for the
VOL. I. B b horfca
( 37* )
horfes alone, but to give the oxen a fmall
bundle every day with their turnips. As
to the management of the beafts, they may
either be bought in the fpring, and fold
from the turnips ; or at autumn, and fold
from the grafs : this muft be according to
the rife and fall of prices in the country
where the farmer lives, but he mould be
attentive to it, as felling his beafts when
beef is f d. a pound dearer than common,
will be to him a confiderable difference.
The advance upon them of doubling the
original price is certainly not extravagant:
It is highly requifite that a man mould do
that, when he keeps his oxen the year thro',
and gives them turnips and hay befides
their ftraw. The gentleman's account of
this farm will be as follows :
Stock. I.
Rent, &c.
112
isfaag
Implements,
19
ii 6
Live ftock,
- 3^4
o o
Seed and tillage,
r - 8
10 O
Labour: before,
41 18 10
27 per cent.
ii 6 o
*
'"* "?
A IO
Sundry articles,
90
6 o
6
- 607
12 4
AN-
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences* . 1. &
Rent,- &e. - 112 o
30 Oxen, - - v ;. * 300
Turnip feed, '
Labour, W^ 53
Sundry articles, 50 6 ' o
"
Produce.
Expences, , 7) * r
Intereftv r >f^*'^ si^UIj
Profit, -. ''*rs . 53 12
This profit coming fo near that of the
farmer, is plainly owing to the fmall. quan-
tity of arable land in the farm : but the
difference will be beft feeri in the follow-
ing
COMPARISON. /. s. d,
The gentleman's ftock, 607 12 4
The farmer's, 581 6 4
Superiority of the latter, .26 6 o
Produce equal.
B b 9 The
( 37* )
/. t.
The farmer's profit, 80 4
The gentleman's, - 53 12
The former fuperior, - . 26 1 2 o
The farmer's money pays
him per cent. - 18180
The gentleman's, - 13 1 6 o
The former fuperior, . 5 2 o
Having thus endeavoured to fhew what
profit both the farmer and gentleman have
reafon to expect from fuch a tract of land
on a light foil, all arable, and alfo from a
part of it grafs and a part arable, I fhall
here throw in a variation for the ufe of gen-
tlemen alone, that the method may in this,
cafe be known of one party making an interefl
at leaft equal, if not fuperior to the other :
that gentlemen may know according to the
foil how to apply their money to fuch im-
proved methods, as will give them a better
profit than what the common farmer en-
joys.
( 373 )
N"9-
Variation the ninth.
Thirty-two acres of arable land? either all
light loam ; or a fart light > and u fart
heavy loam.
This farm I propofe being cropped with
lucerne and carrots, to be jointly applied to
the fatting of cattle; neither of them are
very particular in their foils ; lucerne will
thrive on any that are dry, except mere
fands, and carrots on all but clayey wet
loams. I may fuppofe, from the vaft va-
riety of land to be met with in moft farms,
the lucerne to be raifed on a dry found ftiff
loam j and the carrots on a lighter one.
Stock. I t. d.
Rent of 32 acres, at
21 s. - .33 12 o
Tythe, at 4 s. - 6120
Rates, &c. &c. at 4 /. 6 1 2 p
> ... 46 1 6 p
Implements.
2 Small three wheeled
carts, * - 12 X 2 o
Harnefs for 2 horfes, 400
I Plough, - i u 6
Carryover, . 18 3 6 46 1 6 Q
B b 3 Harrows,
( 374 )
/. s. d. L s. d.
Brought over, 18 3 6 46 6 o
Harrows, -200
Sundry fmall articles, 2 o o
22 3 6
Livejlock.
2 Horfes, -24 o Q
Tillage.
O
One ploughing on 32 acres, " 6 8 o
Labour.
One earth on 32 acres
three times in the
fame furrow, half an
acre a day, .3 40
Three common ditto, 4160
Ditching 50 perch, 2 10 Q
Carting 3 loads per
perch, or 150 loads,
25 a day, at 2 d. a
load filling, and I
3 d. a day driving,
Carting wood,
Sundry fmall articles,
27 percent.
Parry over
i S
{ 375 )
Brought over, . n8 13 6
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, ^- T - . i 40
Wear and tear, 2 o o
Keeping 2 horfes a year,
calculated at 20 o o
23 4 o
Account of the fecond year.
Expenccs.
/. X. d.
Rent, &c.
46 15 o
23 Home-bred heifers,
69 o o
27 Heifers or fleers,
.135" o
Seed for 9 acres of carrots
at6j. ' <y> G g -."?'.
2 14
Ditto for 23 of lucerne, ,~
;<u 6 l8
Labour.
q~o^^fli/ii^(:
Two ploughings for 23
3fiJ .g:ii:-.:::0
acres of lucerne
T>155V rp ". \
land, . 2 6
O
Three harrowings,. - 017
3
Drilling: Coft of a
drill plough, 800-
Refold for, 400
4 o
Carry over, .7 3
3 260 7 o
B b4
Labour
Brought over, .7 3 3 260 70
Labour in ditto, at
6d. . o II 6
Four hand-hoeings, at
6 j. - - 27120
Cutting 3 times at I s.
6d. 5 3 6
Raiking together, load-
ing and carting, at
is.6d. - S 3 6
One ploughing for 9
acres of carrot land, 090
Sowing, - - 069
Harrowing, - 023
Hoeing, at 3 /. - 27 o o
Digging up, at 20 s. 9 o o
Carting home, at 5 s. 2 50
Ditching 50 perches, 2100
Carting the earth to
farm-yard, - I 12 6
Mixing ditto with 400
loads of dung, at I d. 2 6 q
Carting and fpreading
the whole on the
land, - - 600
Carry over, ".97 53 260 7 o
Carting
( 377 )
Brought over, .97 53 *6o 7 o
Carting home faggots, o 2, o
Sundry fmall articles of
work, including at-
tendance upon the
cattle, ~ 7
104 7 3
27 per cent. ' 'r :< ' 3$ J
_ ^- 132 8 3
Sundry articles.
Shoeing and wear and
tear, - 3 4
30 Loads of ftraw, 20 o o
j?o Loads of ftubble, 800
4 Tons of hay,
00
39
43 1
23 Heifers,
27 Steers,
Expences, - 43 1 J 9 3
Produce, - 33^ o
. 100 19 3
Intereft, ~ - - g8 I 3
jx>fs, - : >C- 129 12 3
AN-
( 378 )
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
/.
55 Beafts, . 23
46 1 6 o
o o
Seed for 9 acres of car-
rots, - - 3 j^
Labour on ditto as be-
fore, - 39 3 g
Three hand-hoeings
of the lucerne, at
5 j. 17 5 o
Four horfe-hoeings ;
a reckoned as one
ploughing, o 6 o
Cutting 5 times, at
i s. 6 d. 8 12 6
Raiking together, load-
ing, and carting
home, at i s. 6 d. 8126
Ditching, carting the
earth, mixing and
re-car ting as before, 12 10 6
Sundry fmall articles, 7 ..o o
95 9 6
21 3 o
-- 116 12 6
- 39 4 o
430 ^ 6
Pro-
( 379 )
Produce. ^ J**.- d.
55 Beafts, ^ ?-!.. "jodi'-i $S1 rfa'G
Expences, . - .iteja \-yfj :. 480 6 6
.69 13 d
Intereft, ?- u 4I fij k'jfc/j 36 3 Q
Profit, TS >8^ i>3s! jC- 33 J Q 6
. The reader may poflibly think the fup-
pofition of 9 acres of carrots and 23 of lu-
cerne, largely calculated to fat 55 beafts to
the improvement of 5 /. 'each, which is
yielding a produce of 275 /. or better than
8 /. an acre : but if the vaft expence of the
carrot crop is cofifidered, (which rifes to
about 6 /. per acre) no one would think 10 l m
per acre too large an allowance for that,
and the lucerne is then reckoned at 8 /.
both which prices are either very moderate,
or thefe vegetables not worth the culture.
The general account of this farm is as fol-
lows. /. s. d.
Firft ftock, \ r- **<: 141 17 6
Second year's expences, it>i. 431 19 3
Produce of ditto below the
expences of the third, -r 149 6 6
33
Which fum pays 9 /. 13 s. per cent.
From the fmallnefs of which profit, it is
plain the crops fhould be rendered propor-
tionally more productive ; or that it will
not anfwer to employ fuch large fums of
money upon fuch fmall tracts of land, fo
well as upon larger. Some fituations
may indeed render it highly beneficial ; for
inftance, in the neighbourhood of great
cities, for the keeping of cows ; for which
purpofe both lucerne and carrots are admir-
ably adapted.
General Recapitulation of this Chapter.
Stocks requifitefor the preceding farms*
N J. Eighty acres all ara-
ble, the foil clay or
loam, and laid down
to grafs, r - . 593 8 6
Ditto a gentleman, v . 664 6 6
2. Sixty acres all arable,
the foil clay or loam,
laid down to grafs, - . 483 6 6
Ditto a gentleman, - . 560 2 6
3. One hundred acres, the i
foil clay or loam, all
arable, .558 3 57
Ditto a gentleman, - -582 n 5f
4. Fifty
4. Fifty acres, all arable ; the
foil clay or loam : cul-
tivated upon improved
principles in cabbages
and lucerne, -5%2 4 74-
j. One hundred acres, the
foil clay or loam ; half
grafe and half arable, . 562 3 o
Ditto a gentleman, - .571 & o
6. One hundred acres all
arable; the foil clay
or loam, - - .661 I j, o
Ditto a gentleman, ri:3 n rjl? jT, 659 180
7. Eighty acres all arable,
the foil light enough
for turnips, . 730 15 7
Ditto a gentleman, - . 750 i 7
8. Eighty acres ; 60 grafs,
and 20 arable ; the firft
a heavy foil, the laft
light, .601 6 4
Ditto a gentleman, - . 607 12 4
9. Thirty-two acres of ara-
ble, the foil all light,
or part of it light and
part heavy land; the
culture improved in
carrots and lucerne, -723 33
5
Annual produce of theft farms, expenc&s
paid.
N9i. - - .9! 17 o
Ditto a gentleman* .102 17 o
2. . 68 16 o
Ditto a gentleman, - .66180
3. - - - . ioi 19 oi.
Ditto a gentleman, - . 77 n 07
4- - - * I1 3 ' T 74-
5- - -90 i 74
Ditto a gefcitleman, - jT. 81 i 74-
6. . n<> 3 o
Ditto a gentleman, - . 117 18 o
7- 107 ia 5
Ditto a gentleman, - . 94 6 5*
8. . 90 5 2
7' i Ditto a gentleman, - . 83 19 2
9- 6 9 13 6
Pr oft per cent, on thefe farms.
N J. _ - "5 13 <*
Ditto a gentkman, - . 15 10 o
2. - . 14 5 o
Ditto a gentleman, - .12 o o
3- - - - 18 4 o
Ditto a gentleman, - . 13 80
( -3*3 )
' 4. - 19 8 o
5- - " '-^ 16 oo
Ditto a gentleman, - '. 14 30
6. - - : . 17 ii o
Ditto a gentleman 1 , :: *- ' - ; . 1 7 2 o
7. . 14 12 o
Ditto a gentleman, - - . 12 10 o
8. >- .); . 14 19 o
Ditto-a gentleman, - 4 ' i 'i.i3 16 o
9- Zli:n iV r/:! ^ ^C ; 9 13
Comparlfon between gentlemen andfarmers^
in their profit per cent, on the preceding
farms. L s. d 9
N^ i. The farmer, - 19 14 o
The gentleman, - 15 10 o
Superiority of the former, - -4 40
2. The farmer, . - 19 o o
The gentleman, .^j: 12 o o
Former fuperior by ?>'? .7 o o
3. The farmer, - 22 1 2 o
The gentleman, - 13 8 o
Former fuperior by - . 9 ^ o
5. The farmer, - 19 u o
The gentleman, - 14. 3 o
Former fuperior by - .580
"67 The
6. The farmer, .21 o o
The gentleman, 17 2
Former fuperior by - 3 I 9
7. The farmer, - 17170
The gentleman, 12 10 o
Former fuperior by - 5 70
8. The farmer, 18 18 o
The gentleman, - 13 16 o
Former fuperior by . 5 20
The progreffion of the farmer's farms,
in order of profit, is as follows:
N 3- 18 40
6. . 17 ii o
5. - - .1600
i- - - I 5 X 3
8. . 14 19 o
7. - . 14 12 o
2. - - . 14 5" O
From this little table it is obfervable, that
the farmer makes better intereft of his
money from off 100 acres of the clay foil,
all arable, than from any of the reft.
The next beneficial farm is the 100
acres all gcafs.
The third, half grafs and half arable.
Next comes the 80 acres of arable, laid
down to grafs.
The
The fifth in profit is the grazing farm,
80 acres, 60 grafs, and 20 arable.
The fixth is the 80 acres all arable, the
foil light enough for turnips.
The laft is the 60 acres arable, laid down
to grafs.
A few circumftances fhould here be re-
marked. The difference between the two
firft, that is, between 100 acres all in grafs
or all arable, is but 13 s. per cent, which
may, in fuch a calculation, be called an
equality ; but this equality is in thofe
points only that are reducible to calculation.
In all others the grafs farm has infinitely
the advantage : The labour of the farmer
is nothing; confequently he has leifure to
apply to whatever other bufinefs he can
turn to account; which, in many cafes, may
be of confiderable importance. He is alfo
liable to fewer chances and accidents of
evil; his profit more fure, lefs dependant
on the feafons; and his whole bufmefs- in
every refpecl: vaftly more fimple and eafy.
For thefe and many other reafons, the grafs
farm claims the preference, notwithftanding
the rank above afligned : One muft adhere.
in calculations to figures ; deviations unre~
VOL. I. C c ducible
( 386 )
ducible to eftimate, muft be confidered in
another light.
The 100 acres half grafs and half arable
and the Bo arable acres laid down to grafs,
are likewife on a par ; that is but 7 s. per
cent, difference. For the preceding rea-
fons, the latter is the moft beneficial.
The three laft farms are alfo upon an
equality ; one 80 acres, 60 grafs, and
20 arable ; one all arable ; and the other
60 arable, laid down to grafs. The laft
certainly the beft.
The variations, in the fum required to
ftock thefe farms, are fome of them pretty
confiderable ; thefe do not affect the profit
per cent, but muft be regarded in the en-
quiry, 'what fum is requifiteforfuch a farm ?
To have fquared the calculations fo as each
fum might have been the fame, might have
been done ; but the eftimates would not have
been fo genuine, nor would the proportions
between the methods on a given number of
acres, appear near fo dear as at prefent ; a
point which is not a little ufeful.
1 8 /. 4 s. per cent, which is the greateft
profit made in any of thefe farms is not con-
fiderable ; not fo much indeed as I think it
ought
( 387 )
ought to be ; but this fcale of farms I do
not think fo profitable in themfelves as
the fucceeding ones ; but herein I may be
miftaken.
The progreffion of the gentleman's
farms, in the order of profit, is as fol-
lows.
N 4 . .';*!.; 19 80
6.' - !*>rr r -17 2
1. - . Ij 10 o
5- - .' *' -14 3
8. . 13 16 o
3- ~ 13 8
7. - v'~. . 12 10 O
2. - : '&-" .12 00
9. MV:;, . 9 13 O
From this fcale it is very apparent that
the 50 arable acres cultivated in cabbages
and lucerne, are much the moft beneficial
farm, even more advantageous than 100
acres of grafs, which is fecond.
Eighty acres all arable, but laid down to
grafs, comes next ; and is a frefh proof of
the great benefit of grafs farms to gen-
tlemen.
N 5, 8, and 3, are nearly alike that
is, 100 acres, half and half 80 acres,
C C 2, 60
( 388 )
60 grafs and 20 arable and 100 acres
of clay, all arable; but the very men-
tion of the laft, in which the gentleman is
neceffarily under fo many difadvantages not
to be eftimated, is fufficient to tell us that
mould be rejected: the 60 grafs and 20
arable I mould prefer, having fo much lefs
labour, and fewer chances againft it.
N 7. and 2. that is, 80 acres all light
arable, and 60 laid down to grafs, are likewife
upon a par : there can therefore be no com-
parifon between them ; the latter muft in
every refpecT: be preferable.
The 32 acres cultivated in carrots and
lucerne, are the leaft beneficial of any,
(under the circumftances recited in that
eftimate) ; but this proceeds from fo large a
fum of money being expended on fo fmall a
tract of land ; thofe vegetables, in a due
proportion to the flock, will hereafter be
found as beneficial as moft, and to yield a
profit much fuperior to that of the common
farmer. I did not ftrike out the calculation,
that gentlemen might fee that they are not
to reafon too much by analogy in tillage
farms, and to conclude that, becaufe 50
acres are very profitably employed upon a
2 large
( 389 )
large fcale, that 50 may be equally To on a
fmaller.
It is evident that the joint application of
cabbages and lucerne to the feeding of cat-
tle, is a moft profitable farm to a gentle-
man, and from the firnplicity of the bufi-
nefs, being drawn as it were to one point
of buying and felling, (an object of great
importance to a gentleman) is open to a
few objections, and chances of being cheated
and deceived, as any tillage farm can be;
for the deduction of 27 per cent, on the
labour in thefe improved farms, anfwering
at leaft a principal part of the objections
relative to that quarter ; and the fimplicity
of the bufmefs of them, in comparifon with
a corn one, removing many others, leaves
thefe farms very beneficial ones : Here is
no feed to buy, and to trufl through fervants
hands no critical feafons to be caught
in fowing, reaping, harvefting, &c. where
a fmall lofs in labour is attended with great
confequences : and almoft all the labour
that is required, is in a pretty regular path,
and open to few impofitions. In the buy-
ing and felling cattle, 'the gentleman cer-
tainly is inferior to the common farmer; but
C c 3 then
( 39 )
then "he is equally fo in grafs farms, which
every one who occupies, whether gentle-
men or farmers, find fo greatly profitable :
In one word, I cannot but recommend the
cabbage and lucerne farm to a gentleman,
preferably to any of the reft.
The next profitable farm to a gentleman
is that which is all grafs : m thefe he nearly
equals the farmer in thofe ^oints not re-
ducible to calculation, as well as in fuch as
are to be eftimated. No gentleman, if he
is in hefitation whether to farm or let it
alone, need to fear a grafs one ; he cannot
(I might almoft fay) lofe by it,* but he may
make very confiderable profit. I know not
by what means or in what fund he will be
able to make 1 7 per cent, of his money ;
and at the fame time, build only upon
common foundations, following a profeffion
which is .known to be profitable ; and de-
pending upon no novelties ; I think he may
be contented, and truft to agriculture as
fecurely as fo many do to commerce, for
much lefs but more hazardous profits.
I here addrefs myfelf to fuch men as re-
ject the idea of purfuing any thing out of
the common road j who would much
rathe?
( 39 1 )
rather farm in the common ftile for is per
cent, than upon new improvements for 20.
Such people, it is true, have but little that
is rational in them, but we muil addrefs
even that little : To thofe who are fenfi-
ble that the world is not yet arrived at its
higheft perfection in hufbandry, and that
practices may be profitable though ne c w^
we may venture to ufe a different language,
and calculate lucerne and cabbages, for in-
ftance, to yield a more confiderable profit
than wheat or turnips.
But the utility of thefe vegetables, as
well as fome others of the fame kind, is by
no means ideal ; though not common in
every part of England, yet they have been
cultivated, and in large too, with great fuc-
cefs by many.
In the next clafs I made, viz. N 5,
8, and 3. the more grafs we find in a farm,
the more profitable it is ; a new proof how
important it is to gentlemen to prefer that
to all common hufbandry : the fame obfer-
vation is applicable to N 7, and 2.
In the comparifon between the gentle-
man and the farmer, the reader will find
C c 4 frefh
( 392 )
frem infiances of the fuperiority of grafs to
arable, for gentleman's culture.
CHAP. XXII.
Of the moft advantageous method of difpofing
of any fum from 700 /. to 1000 /. in farm-
ing.
I CAN NOT enter on any chapter, without
previoufly remarking what numbers of
variations I arn in each obliged to make,
that are too inconfiderable for particular ex-
planations : Now, one part of thefe papers
ending where the other begins the laft
chapter, for inftance, extends to 700 /. and
even higher than that fum ; and the pre-
fent one, begins, as it were, with 700 /.
hence the reader may fay, ivhy is a varia^
tion made between a man who farms with
700 /. and another with 750 /. This is
very true ; and I feel the force of the ob-
jection ; but when fhould variations be
made ? Muft none come into the account
but fuch marking ones as thofe of 1000 /.
and joo /. ? Colours may be mixed fo as to
J)e difficult to pronounce upon ; and fo as
the
( 393 )
the eye, though not defcription, can fepa-
rate. It is the fame with fuch an afcend-
ing feries as I am in at prefent.
Ni.
One hundred and feventy acres-) arable ; the
foil clay or loam.
I call this farm, arable^ but 176 acres of
it are the arable part ; and I fuppofe 10
acres of grafs about the houfe, for the utility
of convenience : Such variations are too
inconfiderable to notice.
Stock.
Rent, &c. I s. &
1 70 Acres, at ijs. . 144 10 o
Tythe, at 4 s. \ - " 28 18 o
Rates, &c. 4 s. - 28 18 o
202 6 o
Livejlock.
6 Horfes, - . 90 o o
5>o Cows, " 100 o o
3 Sows, :*r<^ - 3 10 o
^ IQ3 TO O
Carryover, -395 J 6
Implements*
( 394 )
Brought over, . 395 16 o
Implements.
One waggon, .25 o o
2 Carts, - 24 o o
3 Ploughs, - - 4 14 6
A pair of harrows, 2 10 o
Two rollers, 400
Harnefs for 6 horfes, 8 o o
20 Sacks, - 300
Sundry fmall articles, 10 o o
Dairy furniture, 20 o o
101 4 6
Seed and tillage.
Four earths, on 40
acres of wheat-
land, - . 32 o o
Seed, - - 20 o o
Sowing, - -loo
Water-furrowing, 2 o o
Three earths on 40
acres of fpring corn
land, - 24 o o
Seed, - - 20 o o
Clover ditto, - 800
Sowing, - - i oo
Water-furrowing, I o o
Carryover, .109 o o 497 o 6
Two
( 395 )
Brought over, . 109 o 6 497 o 6
Two earths on 40
acres of bean land, 10
Seed, y* ' 1 6
Sowing, - 2
Water-furrowing, * I
Harrowing 40 acres, 2
!
Labour.
One earth on 40 acres
of wheat land, . 2
Harrowing, - o
Sowing, o
Water-furrowing, - 2
Weeding, - 2
Reaping and harveft-
ing, at 6 s. - 12
Thrafhing the crop,
3 quarters per acre,
J20 at 2 J. - 12
o o
o o
o o
146 o o
O
IO
10 O
o o
o o
Carry over, .31
o o 6 13 o 6
The preceding farmer's clover crop ftands a fecond
year, which is effected by his fowing the wheat on the fal-
low inftead of the clover, as he perhaps might not fow
beans. It is to be remembered that farmers are defirous
enough of fallows when they are paid for ploughing.
Carrying
( 396 :)
Bror^M ov"- " J43
Carrying ou, to q
a time, 2 men ; ua\ i 40
Three earths on 40
acres of fpring corn
land, - 600
Harrowing, - o 10 o
Sowing, - - o 10 o
Water-furrowing, - - i iq o
Mowing and harveil-
ing, at 4 .r. - , 8 o ,o
ThraJQiing, 4 qrs. per
acre, 1 60 - quarters,
at 15. o
Carrying out 30 acres
of barley, 4 qrs. per
acre, 120 qrs. 12 qrs.
at a time, 2 men
i day, - i
Three earths on 40
acres of bean land, 600
Sowing, - 200
Water-furrowing, I o o
Hand-hoeing once, at
6 j. - 1200
Carryover, . 78 40 643 o 6
Horfe-
( 397 )
Brought over, . 78 40 643
Horfe-hoeing 3 times,
at 6 d. 3 o o
Reaping and harvefting
at 7 s. 14 O o
Thrafhing 3 qrs. per
acre, 120 quarters,
at i j. - -.600
Carrying out 9 qrs. at
a time, 2 men i day, i 8 o
Chopping and raking
40 acres of wheat .-,, ;
ftubble, - 300
Carting ditto home,
8 days, 5 men, -200
Ditching 200 perches,
at i s, JO o o
Carting the earth, 600
loads into the farm-
yard, 20 load a day,
$d. a load filling, and
I s. 3 d. a day driv-
ing, i o day s, 6 s. 3 d. 326
26 Head of cattle, at
12 load, 312 loads
Carry over, . 120 14 6 643 06
mixing
( 398 )
Brought over .120 14 6 643 o 6
mixing with 600 of
earth, 912, at i d. 3 16 o
Carting 912 loads on to
the land, 20 a day,
45 days, 3 s. a fcore,
or day, filling and
fpreading, and I /.
3 d. driving, 4. s. 3 d. 9 1 1 3
Mowing and making
10 acres of grafs
into hay, at 5 s. 2 IO O
Carting ditto home,
and flacking 3 days
of 7 men, at I s. ^d. i 80
Cutting 5 bufhels of
chaff per week, 2
months, 400 bu-
fhels, atiJ. - o 16 8
Carting faggots, -050
The preceding work I
calculate to employ
the team 245 days ;
we may therefore
fuppofe 40 days em-
Carry over, .139 i 5 643 06
ployed
( 399 )
Brought over, . 139 * 5^43
ployed in bring-
ing manure from
the neareft town,
2 men a day, - 400
N. B. This is work
which does not re-
quire fine weather,
but may be done
when tillage cannot
go on. Otherwife
385 days, out of
313, would be too
large an allowance,
as a few trifling
jobs are not taken
into the account.
Sundry fmall articles
of work, to the a-
mount of a boy at
6 d. a day, - 9 o O
Suppofe
earns,
153
the farmer
- 12
i 5
o o
C]arry over,
J 4 U L 5
.783 * ii
Sundry
( 400 )
Brought over, .783 i 1 1
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, .3 12 o
Wear and tear, - 20 o o
Market expences, -300
40 Loack of manure, 10 o o
Cafh in hand to
anfwer incidental
expences, - 50 o o
86 12 o
.869 13 ii
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. I. s. d.
Rent, &c. - - 202 6 o
Seed for 40 acres of wheat,
40 of fpring-corn, 40 of
clover, and 40 of beans, - 64 o o
Labour, - 240 I r
Sundry articles, - 36120
7442 19 5
Produce. I. s. d.
1 20 Quarters of wheat, - 240 o o
120 Quarters of barley, i6s. 96 o o
Carryover, . 336 o o
120 Qrs.
Brought over, . 336 o o
130 Qrs. of beans, at 32*. - 192 o o
SO Cows, ico oo
628 o~o
Expences, - 44 2 *9 5
185 o 7
Intereft, 43 5
Profit, - f-rt } .- .141 iT7
The profit of this farm is 2 1 /. 7 j-./^r cent.
which is certainly confiderable : The bufi-
nefs, though large, is yet fimple, and con-
ducted upon an advantageous plan. Thefe
proportions of 40 acres of wheat, 40 of
fpring corn, 40 of clover, and 40 of beans
in drills, are very beneficial, with the aflift-
ance of 10 acres of grafs. The wheat and
beans yield plenty of ftraw for litter, and
alfo of ftubble for fpreading in the farm
yard to convert into dang, at the fame time
that it keeps the cows dry, and warm
lodged all winter : the barley and oats af-
ford ftraw for feeding the cows in winter,
and the grafs, hay both for them and the
horfes. The clover and the after-feed of
the grafs are an ample provifion for the
VOL. I. D d cows
( 403 )
cows and horfes in fummer : In a word,
all parts of a farm of this fize afford to each
other a mutual affiftance. I mould remark
that I make cows the flock, and not fheep,
upon account of having a winter-flock for
the flraw : Allotting qo cows to be princi-
pally fed upon clover, will alarm many
farmers not ufed to fuch hufbandry ; all I
can fay to them is, that I know many farms
whereon dairies of cows are kept, that
have not a fmgle acre of grafs; but the
10 acres in the farm in queflion is a full
anfwer to fuch objections as the farmers,
in fuch countries as admit but a partial ufe
of clover, allow it to be an excellent food
for cows, if they are lodged every night in
a natural grafs field. However the objec-
tion j even if it had weight in general, would
have none here, as the great point is the
product of the clover, which will not yield
lefs than I have flated, be it managed as it
may : and, in breeding countries, there is no
neceflity of applying it to the dairy *.
* The reader doubtlefs remarks that I have left out
houfe-keeping in this account : It is now time to drop
that article, for reafons too numerous to infert : It is too
various now to calculate.
The
( 403 )
The gentleman's account of this farm
will be as follows :
Stock. I. s. d.
Rent, &c. 2C2 60
Live ftock, as before, - 193 10 o
Implements, ; -.## , >}tH-'.> - 101 4 6
Seed and tillage, - 146 o o
Labour, JT. 152 i 5
27 per cent. 41 o o
--- 193 i 5
Sundry articles, 8612 o
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. L s. d.
Rent, &c. &2JMfl 202 6 o
Seed, - 64 o o
Labour, 193 15
Sundry articles, 36 12 o
Produce.
The fame,
Expences, -
132 o 7
Intereft, 45 18 o
Profit, _^86"~77
D d 2 The
The gentleman receives 14 /. 7 s. per
cent, for his money in this farm, which is
as much as he has reafon to expect from any
arable one, managed in the common form :
but let it always be remembered that his
difadvantages in thefe are numerous, be-
fides that of labour deducted in his account.
If all of them were reducible to eftimate,
the remaining profit would be found of
wondrous lightnefs : The fmgle articles of
labour gives the farmer, in the account of
this farm, 7 /. per cent, fuperiority, which
is a vaft difference.
NO 2.
Variation, thefirft.
One hundred and ten acres arable ; the foil
light enough for turnips.
The ten acres of this farm I fuppofe to
be grafs.
Stock.
Rent of 100 acres, at
1.8 '. -99 oo
Tythe, at 4 s. - 19 60
Rates, &c. at 4 .r. - 19 60
Carryover, - 137 12 o
JJtvt
( 4*5 )
Brought over, .137 12 o
Li'vejlock.
Four horfes, - . 60 o o
20 Cows, - 100 o o
2 Sows, - ! & 2 o o
50 Heifers or fleers, 250 o o
412 o o
Implements.
A waggon, - .25 oo
Two Carts, - 20 o o
Two ploughs, - 330
Harnefs, - -800
Harrows and rollers, 400
Sacks, - - 300
Dairy furniture, - 12 o o
- Sundry fmall articles, 10 o o
85 3 o
.Seed and Tillage.
Four earths on 25 acres
of wheat land, . 20 o o
Seed, - - 12 10 o
Sowing, - o 12 6.
Water-furrowing, - o 12 6
Two earths on 25 acres
of fpring corn land, 10 o o
Seed, - 12 10 o
Carryover, . 5^6 5 o 634 15 o
D d 3 Sowing
( 406 )
Brought over, .56 5 o 634 15 o
Sowing, - 063
Seed clover, - 500
Sowing, - -063
Harrowing, - 150
Rolling, - 050
Water-furrowing, -063
One earth on 25 acres
of fallow, 5 o o
Seed 25 acres of tur-
nips, o 12 6
69 6.3
Labour.
One earth on 25 acres
of wheat land, . i 50
Sowing, - 063
Harrowing, 063
Water-furrowing, -063
Weeding, -150
Reaping and harveft-
ing, at 6 s. 7 10 o
Thrafhmg the crop, 3
qrs. per acre, 75 qrs.
at 2 J. - 7 10 o
Carry over, . 18 8 9 704 13
9 Carrying
( 407 )
Brought over, . 18 89 704 i 3
Carrying out 10 qrs.
at a time, call it 8
journeys, - 0160
Three earths on 25 a-
cres of fpring-corn
land - 3 15 o
Sowing, - - 063
Harrowing, - 063
Water-furrowing, -063
Rolling, - o i o
Sowing clover, - 063
Mowing and harveft-
ing, at 4*. - 5 o o
Thrafhing the crop, 4
qrs. per acre, 100
qrs. at i s. - 500
Carrying out 18 acres
of barley, 72 qrs. 12
at a time, 6 jour-
neys, o 12 o
Five earths on 25 acres
of turnip land, - 650
Sowing, - 063
Harrowing, - 063
Hand-hoeing, at 7 s. 8 15 o
Carry over, . 50 10 3 704 13
D d 4 Drawing
Brought over, .50 103 704 i
Drawing the turnips
and carting -them
home, at 7 s. 6 d. - 9 76
Mowing, making, cart-
ing, and flacking 10
acres of grafs, - 3 18 o
Cutting 3 oo bufliels of
chaff, - o 12 6
Chopping, &c. &c. 25
acres of ftubble, - 1176
Carting home, - I 10 o
Carting faggots, - 040
Ditching, 130 perches, 6 10 o
Carting the earth 390
loads to farm-yard,
20 a day, 3 d. a load
and is. 3 d. driving,
fay 20 days, 6 s.
$d. 650
68 Head of cattle at
12 loads, 816 loads,
1206 in all : mixing
at i d. - 506
Carry over, . 85 15 3 704. i 3
Carting
Brought over, . 85 15 3 704 13
Carting 1206 loads,
and fpreading, 3 s. a
fcore,iJ.3^.driving,
45. 3 d. 60 days, - 12 15 o
Sundry fmall articles, 900
jr. 107 10 3
Farmer earns, - 12 o o
- 95 io S
Sundry articles.-
Shoeing and wear and
tear, - 15
Market expences, - 3 o o
30 Loads of ftraw, 20 o o
Cam hi hand, - 5
88 o o
.887 n"6
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. L s. d f
Rent, &c. 137 12 o
50 Heifers, - - 250 o o
Seed, - - 30 12 6
Labour before, . 95 10 3
Add for thrafhing,
and carrying out 6
bufhels/^r acre more
Carryover, . 95 10 3 418 46
wheat,
Brought over, .95 10 3 418 4 6
wheat, and i quar-
ter more barley, -390
9 8 19 3
Sundries,
-
38
o
o
555
3
9
Produce.
7,
s.
/,
25 Acres
of wheat 94 qrs.
169
O
o
1 8 Acres
of barley, 90 qrs.
-
72
20 Cows,
-
I CO
o
o
50 Fat beafts,
350
o
o
691
Expences,
-
5*55
3
9
135
16
3
Intereft,
-
44
7
Profit,
- i _'-?.\;v
9i
9
3
The capital pays 15 /. 6 s. per cent.
Upon this account I fhould remark, that
the reader fhould not be furprifed at this
variation in the value of the crops, as the
fuperior quantity of manure makes it ne-
cefiary to raife the produces. Half this
farm is every year manured at the rate of
24 loads per acre. The gentleman's ac-
count is as follows :
Stock.
( 4" )
Stock. I * d.
Rent, &c. 137 12 o
Live ftock, 412
Implements, 85 3
Seed and tillage, 6 9 6 3
Labour, - . 107 10 3
,27 percent. 28 17 o
136 73
Sundry articles, - 88
9* 8 8 6
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. / J. d.
Rent, &c. 137 13 o
50 Heifers, 250 o o
Seed, 30 12 6
Labour, . IIQ I 9 3
2 7 per cent. - 29 19
140 18 3
Sundries, - - 3&
- 597 2 9
Produce. /. s. d.
The fame, 691 o o
Expences, 597 2 9
93 i7 3
Intereft, ^^\ 46 8 o
Profit, .47 93
The capital pays 10 /. 2 /. /w cent.
Ns.
( 412 )
Variation thefecond.
One hundred and 20 acres y all graft.
Stock.
'Rent, &c. I. t. d.
Rent of 1 20 acres, . 120 o o
Tythe, at 4J. - 24 o o
Rates, &c. at 4 s. - 24 o o
168 o o
Implements.
One fmall three
wheeled cart, -
Sundries, including
harnefs, *
. 181 o o
Livejlock.
Onehorfe, - . 15 o o
120 Steers, at 5/. 600 o o
615 o o
Labour.
100 Perch of ditching,
and carting it on to
tfheland, at 3 s. .15 o o
Carry over, .15 o o 796 o o
. Sundry
( 413 )
Brought over, . 15 o o 796 o o
Sundry fmall articles, 400
*9
Suppofe the farmer
earns as before, 1 2 o o
-- 7 Q O
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, i 5
Market expenccs, - i o a
Cafhmhand, - 30 o o
--- 33 50
AHNUAL ACCOUNT.
Rent, &c. - . 168 o o
^20 Steers, - 600 o o
Labour,^ - 700
Sundries, - -250
--- 777 5
Produce.
ISO Fat fleers, at 8 /. 960 o q
Expences, - _777 5 .
. 182 15 'o
Itereft> & 4 1 ^5 o
profit, '^L
The
t 414 )
The capital pays 20 /. 14 s. per cent.
which is a new proof of the great benefits
refulting from grafs farms. The gentle-
man's account of this is as follows :
Stock. I. s. d.
Rent, &c. - 1 68 o o
Implements, - - 13 o o
Live flock, - -61500
Labour, - - 19 o o
27 per cent. - 520
-- 24 2 O
Sundries, - 32 5 o
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences.
Rent, &c.
120 Steers,
Labour,
Sundries,
The fame,
Expences,
Produce.
/. s. d.
168 o o
600 o o
24 2 O
2 5 o
I. s. d.
960 o o
794 7 o
165 13 o
Intereft,
( 415 )
Intereft, - - 42 12 o
Profit, . 123 10
~The capital pays, 19 /. 9 s. per cent.
N3-
Variation the third.
One hundred and ten acres arable, the foil
clay or loam y and laid down to grafs.
This, like the preceding farms, is called
an arable one, but I mould remark that ten
acres are fuppofed te be old grafs. I fup_
pofe all the arable unfown by the preceding
tenant ; and, for the fake of variations in the
calculation, fhall throw the whole expence
into one view.
Stock.
Renf, &c.
Of no acres at 17 s.. 93 10 o
Tythe, at 4 s. 18 14 o
Rates, &c. at 4 s. 18 14 o
130 18 o
Livejtock.
4 Horfes, - . 60 o o
Carry over, . 190 18 o
Implements.
, ( 4*6 X_
Brought over, . 190 18 g
Implements.
2 Carts, '24 o o
2 Ploughs, - 330
Harnefs, - 6 o O
Harrows and Rollers, 3 10 o
Sundry fmall articles, 500
4! I 3 O
Seed and tillage.
Four earths on 25 a-
cres of fpring-corn
land, - . 20 O o
Seed, --- -12100
Sowing, ----063
Water-furrowing, -150
Harrowing, - 150
Rolling, - "030
Grafs feed for 25 acres, 25 o o
Sowing, - 150
61 14 3
Labour.
Six earths on 75 acres
of fallow, - . 22 10 o
Mowing-and harvefting
25- acres of fpring
corn, at4-f. - 500 ^^__
Carry over, . 27 10 o 294 5 3
Thrafhing
( 417 )
Brought over, .27 10 o 294 5 3
Thrafhing the crop, 4
qrs. per acre, 100
qrs. at i /. - 500
Carrying out 18 acres
of barley, 7 2 qrs. 12
at a time, 6 jour-
neys, - o 12 O
Mowing, making, cart-
ing, and ftacking,
5 acres of hay, - 3 O O
Sundry fmall articles, 3 10 o
38 12 o
Farmer earns, -A ; l %
-- 26 13 o
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, - .3 K> O
Cam in hand, - 30 o o
-- " 33 * .q
Firft year's expences, - . 354. 7 3
Second year. L s. d,
Rent, &c. - - 130 1 8 o
Seed for 75 acres, . 37 10 o
Grafs feeds ditto, - 75 o o
--- 112 10 o
Carry over, . 143 bo
VOL. I. E e 5 Cows
Brought over, .143 So
5 Cows, and dairy furni-
ture. - 28 o o
Labour.
Mowing* making, and
flacking 25 acres of
t new grafs, - . u o o
Three earths on 75
acres, - - - n J* o
Sowing, - - o 1 8 g
Harrowing, - 0189
Rolling, - - 060
Sowing grafs feeds, - 3 15 o
Water-furrowing, - 3 15 o
Mowing and harvdl-
ing, at 4 *w - 1500
Thrashing, 4 qrs. per
acre, 300 qrs, at i s. 15 o o
Carrying out 67 acres
of barley, 268 qrs.
12 at a time, 23.
journeys, 2 60
Sundry fmall articles, 3 10 o
67 14 6
farmer earns, - 12 o a
-- - 55 *4 6
Carryover, . 227 26
Sundry
( 419 )
Brought over, . 227 26
Sundry articles, - ' "- 3 10 o
Second year's expences, - jf. 230 12 6
Third year. I. s. d*
Rent, &c. TT"!^ " J 3 *8 o
1 8 Home-bred heifers, - 72 o o
Mowing, making, and
flacking 75 acres of
new grafs, - . 31 17 o
Sundry fmall articles, 3100
35 7 o
Farmer earns, - 12 o o
23 7 o
Sundry articles, - - 3100
Third year's expences, - -229 15 o
Fourth year. 1. s. d.
Rent, &c. - - 130 18 o
no Steers, - 550 o o
Labour.
Mowing, making, and
flacking, i acre hay, 070
Carryover, . o 70 680 18 o
E e 2 80 Perch
Brought over, . o 70 680 1 8 o
80 Perch of Ditching
and carting earth on
to land, at 3 s. - 12 o o
Sundry fmall articles, 3 10 o
15 17 o
Farmer earns, - 12 o o
3 17 o
Sundry articles.
Shoeing, and Wear,
and Tear, * 150
A fmall three wheeled
cart, - - 700
Sundries, - ~2 o o
I0 5 o
695 o o
Produce.
Firft year.
72 Quarters of barley, at 16 s. . 57 12 o
Second year. /. s. d.
268 Quarters of barley, - 214 80
5 Cows, - - - 25 o o
25 Tons of hay, - - 50 o o
Third
Third year. /. s. d.
5 Cows fold, - - 35 o o
75- Tons of hay, - - 150 o o
1 8 Fat heifers, - - 108 o o
Sale of 3 horfes, implements
of tillage, &c. they coft
80 /. * 35 o o
GENERAL ACCOUNT.
Expence of firft year, . 354 7 3
Intereft, - - 17 14 o
Expence of fecond year, - 331 12 6
Intereft, t ^,*- 34 5 o
Expence of third year, - 229 15 o
Intereft, - - - 45 14 o
Expence of fourth year, - 697 o o
.17 07 9
Produce of the firft year, - 57 13 o
-- of the fecond, - 289 8 o
-- of the third, - 318 oo
. 665 o o
Total expence, - - 1710 79
- Produce, - - 665 o o
Total neceflary to flock? r
this farm, \ ^S 79
E e 3 AN-
( 422 )
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences.
Thofe of the fourth year,
except the cart, r 690 _ o Q
Produce.
no Ste_er,s,
Expences,
Intereft, . . -
Profit, - . 137
The capita) pays 18 /. i s.per cent, which
is confiderable. The gentleman's account
of this farm is as follows :
Stock* ->& /. s. d.
Rent, &c.
Live flock,
130 18 o
60 o o
Implements,
Seed and tillage,
Labour,
- 4i 13 o
61 14 3
3B 12 o
2 7 per cent.
Sundries,
10 10 O
49 2
33 10 o
376 17 3
Second
Second year. .
Rent, &c.
Seed,
5 Cows, &c.
Labour,
27 per cent.
,O&
Sundry articles,
v2
Third year.
Rent, &.
Heifers,
Labour,
27 />
Sundry articles,
Fourth year.
Rent, &c.
Steers,
Labour,
27 /*
Sundry articles,
The produce the fame as before.
E e 4 GE-
( 424 )
GENERAL ACCOUNT.
Expence of firft year, - . 376 173
Intereft, - - - 18 17 o
Expence of fecond year, - 362 46
Intereft, - - - 36 19 o
Expence of third year, - 251 40
Intereft, - - - 49 10 o
Expence of the fourth year, 711 60
1806 17 9
Total produce, - 665 o o
Total neceflary to ftock, - . 1141 17 9
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. I. s. d,
Thofe of the fourth year, the
cart excepted, - - 704 6 o
Produce. L s. d.
The fame, - - 880 o o
Expences, - - - 704. 6 o
175 H o
Intereft, - - 57 2 o
Profit, . 118 12 o
The capital pays 15 /. 9 s. per cent.
( 4*5 ) .
N5-
Variation the fourth.
Fifty-three acres all arable ; the foil all
light) or fart light and partjlijf.
This farm I fuppofe to be either all a light
foil, or part light and part heavy : the firft to
be cropped with carrots, and the fecond
with lucerne, for the joint fatting of cattle ;
but I may remark that thefe are both vege-
tables which will thrive on various foils,
carrots on loams that are only more inclin-
able to lightnefs than to heavinefs, and
lucerne upon light loams as well as clays.
But variations of foil are fo great upon
fmall trads, even in fmgle farms, that it is
no wild or improbable fuppofition to flate
the lucerne part of the farm dry and found,
but ftifF loam ; and the carrot part dry and
light loam.
Any dry foil, from abfolute fand to a
ftiffim loam, will do for carrots : but no
clays : I have cultivated them with great
fuccefs on a good wheat loam.
Stock,
.* { 4*6 )
Stock.
Rent, &c /, s. d+
Rent of 53 acres, at
i / i J. -55 J 3 o
Tythe, at 4 J. n o o
Rates, &c. &c. at 4*. u o o
77 13 o
Livejlock.
4 Horfes, - . 60 o o
45 Steers, &c. at 5 /. 225 o o
285- o o
Implements. .
One waggon, . 25 o o
Two fmall three wheel-
ed carts, 13
One plough,
Harrows,
Harnefs,
Sundry fmall articles,
50 12 o
Seed and Tillage.
Four ploughings, 10
acres of land for
wheat, but not fown, 8
Water-furrowing, - o
Carryover, .8 50413 5
2 Ploughs
( 4*7 )
Brought over, . 8 5 o 413 50
2 Ploughs on 5 acres
oat land, but not
fown, ; - . a Q o
Carrot feed for 15 acres,
at 6 j. - . T ^ 4100
. 14 15 o
Labour.
Ploughing 38 acres
fallow, fix times, . u 80
Thrice harrowed, - o 96
Ploughing 15 acres for
carrots once with 4
horfes, and 3 men ; j
twice in a furrow, : -i
7 acre per day, 30
days, - - . 4 10 o
Hoeing, at 3 1. per acre, 45 o o
Digging up, at i/. 15 o o
Carting home, at 5 s. 3150
Ditching 50 perches, at
i s. - 2 10 o
Carting 3 loads of earth
per perch, or 150
Carry over, .82 12 6 428 o o
3 loads ;
Brought over, . 8-2136428 oo
loads; 25 loads a
day, 2 d. a load fil-
ling, and i s. 3 ^. a a
day driving, - I 12 6
Mixing thefe 1 50 loads
with 200 of dung in
yard, 350 at I d. I 10 o
Filling, fpreading* and
driving away, - 400
Carting home faggots, o I O
150 Days employed in
bringing manure,
from the neareft
market town, I load
a day, 2 men, - 15 o o
104 16 o
27 per cent. - 27 10 o
132 6 o
Sundry articles.
30 Loads of ftraw, .20 o o
Shoeing, - 280
Wear and tear, - 6 10 o
150 Loads of manure, 37 10 o
Carry over, . 66 8 o 560 6 o
Cam
( 429 )
Brought over, .66 80 560 6 o
Cafh in hand to anfwer
incidental expences, 30 oo
Keeping 4 horfes a
year, calculated at 40 o o
f ^ 136 8 o
Total, * . 696 14 o
' , ' ' ** * ^ **
Produce thefirft year.
45 Steers, at 8 s. 8 d. - . 37 8
The account of the fecond year will be
as follows.
Rent, &c. 77 13
75 Heifers or fleers, v n 375
Seed for 3 8 acres of lucerne, - 1 1 8 o
Ditto for 15 acres of carrots, - 4 10 Q
. 468 1 1 o
Labour.
Two ploughings 38
acres of fallow for
lucerne, 3 J 6 o '
Three harrowings, -096
Carry over, .4 5 6 468 1 1 o
Drilling :
( 430 )
Brought over, .4 5 6 468 1 1
Drilling: Goftof
a drill plough, 8 o o
Refold for - 400
4 o o
Labour in ditto, at
6 d* - o 19 o
Four hand-hoeings, at
^ s. - 4 12 O
Cutting 3 times at I s.
6d. 8 II o
Raking together, load-
ing and carting home
at i s. 6 d. - 8 1 1 o
Ploughing 15 acres for
carrots, once with
four horfes and three
men, twice in the
fame furrow, at the
rate of half an acre
a day, 30 days - 4 10 o
Hoeing, at 3 1. per acre, 45* o o
Digging up, i /. - 15 oo
Carting home, at 5 _j. 3 15 o
Ditching 50 perches, 2 10 o
Carryover, . 142 13 6 468 no
Carting
( 43* )
Brought over, . 142 13 6 468 n O
Carting 150 loads of
the earth into farm
yard, t r, . jfi I 12 6
Mixing thefe 150 loads
of earth with 500
loads of dung, 650
at i d. rjrtf/tocJ$i
Filling, fpreading, and
driving away, - 7 o o
Carting home faggots, o a o
Cutting 6 months chaff
for the horfes, -^cfa'jG O
150 Load manure,
brought as before, 15 o o
Sundry fmall articles of n . -
work, including the
attendance on the
cattle, - 10 o o
181 2 o
37 percent, - 48 17 o
229 19 p
Sundry articles.
As before, - . 66 8 o
5 Tons of hay, - 10 o o
76 8 o
^774 18 o
( 43* )
Produce ofthefecondyear.
75 Heifers, &c. ' - . 900 o o
I write this calculation for the ufe of the
few who can form ideas of what the united
powers of tillage and manuring can per-
form ; but there is fo much more done for
this fmall tract of land than ever yet was
known, that I do not venture it to the rea-
der in the fame manner as many other of
thefe calculations : but let me remark that
I am myfelf confident, from the refult of
experiments on a fmaller fcale, that there is
nothing here fuppofed but what might,
and eafily too, be reduced to practice.
GENERAL ACCOUNT. /. /. d.
Expence of the firft year, - 696 1 4. o
Intereft, - - -- 34 16 o
Expence of the fecond, - 774 18 o
. 1506 8 o
Produce of the firft, 378 o o
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. L s. d.
Rent, &c. - - 77 13 o
114 Heifers or fteers, - 456 o o
Carry over, -53* T 3 Q
30 Beaits,
( 433 )
Brought over, . 533 13 o
go Beafts, *- ' - 120 o o
Seed for 15 acres of carrots, - 4 10 o
Labour.
Labour on 15 acres of
carrots as before, . 68 50
Horfe-hoeing 38 acres
of lucerne four times,
6 d. - ; r^, 3 16 o
Two hand-hoeings, at
10 s. - - 19 o o
Cutting four times, at
is. 6 d. - II 80
Raking, loading, and
carting, is. 6 d. - 1 1 80
Ditching and carting,
&c. as before, - 13 18 6
Cutting chaff, r - ; g o 12 6
150 Loads manure, 15 o o
Sundry fmall articles as
.before, - 10 o o
27 per cent. ls **' i: 41 6 o
-- ; - I94 14 o
Carry over, . 852 17 o
VOL. I. F f Sundry
t 434 1 _
Brought over, .852 170
Sundry articles.
Straw, - - 20 o o
Shoeing and wear and
tear, -* 7 10 O
Manure, Z $ ' - 37 10 o
-- 65 o o
" 17 o
Produce.
114 Fat heifers, - 79^
30 Beafts, - ; .*> - 24
1038 o o
Expences, - ' b - s ^^ 9*7 *7
120 30
Intereft, - ; -^c ^.D -fcrr 56 8 o
Profit, i - - , c^' 6 3 J 5 o
The capital pays 10 /. I2x. />^r cent:
but that profit is by no means equal to the
fpirited manner in which this little farm is
cultivated; from whence We may venture
to conclude, that the proportions here
Sketched are not fo advantageous as the
culture will admit : this will be clearly feen
from further enquiries.
( 435 )
o;;> J^P g t
Variation the fifth,
fine hundred and ten acres arable; t)j.e foil
clay y cultivated on improved principles ;
cabbages, ma courfe.
The "ten acres I fuppofe to be grafs near
the houfe.
StocK
c o - c^ ..
Rent* &c.
O of < '
Rent of no acres* at
i$s. .99 o o
Tythe, at4/. *" 19 16 o
Rates, &c. at 4 J. 19 16 o
138 t2 6
"Liyejlock.
4 Horfes, " - X ^
20 Cows, -\ fc ^ loo o o
Q SOWS, - * 2 O O
70 Beafts, ' - c 350 o o
r O O
Implements.
A Waggon, - .95' 0/6 ;
Two carts, - 20 o 6
, 10 C3'JO*i t '- .: I"
Two ploughs, - 33
Harrows, and rollers, 3 10 o
Carry over, .51 13 o 650 12
F f a Haj:nefs<
( 436 )
Brought over, .51 13 o 650 13 o
Harnefs, 800
Sacks, - - 300
Sundries, - Q o o
Dairy furniture, - 500
72 13 o
Seed and tillage.
Four earths on 25 acres
of wheat land, . so o o
Seed, - - 12 10 o
Sowing, - - o 12 6
Water-furrowing, -150
Two earths on. 25 acres
of fpring-corn land, 10 o o
Seed, - - 12 10 o
Sowing, c - _.- o 63
. Water-furrowing, - o i 2 6
Seed clover, - 500
Sowing, - o 63
Harrowing, - 150
One earth on 25 acres
of fallow, - coo
,
Water-furrowing, - i 50
Seed for ac acres of
*
cabbages, - 400
74 12 6
z .Carryover, .797 17 6
Labour.
( 437 )
Brought over, . 797 17 6
Labour.
One earth on 25 acres
of wheat, - . i ' $ o > -s
Sowing, - -3^-0 63
Harrowing, ~ 050
Water-furrowing, - 150
Weeding, - - i 50
Reaping and harveft- * c -*
ing, - - 500
Thrashing the crop 3
qrs. per acre, 75 qrs.
at 2 j. - - 7100
Carrying out 8 jour-
neys, -". -'- 0160
Three earths on 25 acres
of fpring corn, - 3 15 o
Sowing, ^ -T- - o 63
Harrowing, - 063
Sowing clover, - 063
Water-furrowing, - 150
Mowing and harveft-
ing, at4J. *** b o
Thrafhing the crop, 4
qrs. per acre, 100
qrs. at i s. _- "$ o o _______
Carryover, .33 n o 797*17 6
F f 3 Carrying
( 433 )
Brought over, . 33 11 o 797 17 6
Carrying out 16 acres
of barley, 64 qrs. at
a time, 5 journeys, o 10 o
Four earths on 25 acres
of cabbage land, - 5 o o
Digging the feed bed
and fowing, - 070
Planting, at 5 /, - 6 50
Four horfe-hoeings, at
6s. - - 2 10 o
Two hand - hoeings,
at 8 s. - 10 o o
Cutting and carting,
at 5 s. - 650
Mowing, making, cart-
ing, and flacking
10 acres of grafs, -.4 Q- O
Chopping, raking, and
carting 25 acres flub-
We, - 3 15 o
Ditching 150 perch, 7 10
Carting 450 loads at
3 * fillin S> and * *
3 d. carting, 6 j. 3 d.
a day for 23 days, 730
\ V! Carry over, .86 J ^ 797 I 7 6
94 Head
( 439 )
Brought over, . 86 16 o 797 176
94 Head of cattle,.
1128 load mixing
with 450, in all
1578, at i d. f 6 ii 6
Carting 1 5 78 loads, and
fpreading, 78 days,
at 4 J. 3 d. - 16116
Carting faggots, - 040
Cutting chaff, ir~; o 12 6
Sundry fmall articles, 600
116 15 6
27 per cent. - 31 n o
148 6 6
Sundry articles,
Shoeing, and wear and
tear, ,15 o o
40 Loads of draw, 30 o o
Cafh in hand, 40 o o
_ 85 o o
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. I s. d.
Rent, &c. ^te* - - 138 12 o
70 Beafts, - - . j$5Q o o
Carryover, ^7^88 12 o
F f 4 Seed
( 440 )
Brought over, . 488 12 o
Seed for 25 acres of wheat,
25 of fpring corn, 25 of
clover, and 25 of cabbages, - 34 o o
Labour, v<Vi~ _ - - 148 6 6
Sundry articles, :bo $b*oi 45 o o
.715 18 6
Produce* t s;S
2$ Acres of wheat, 8ytqrs. /. s. d.
at 40 s. >.--d ^ - 175 O o
16 Of barley, 72 at 16 j. - 57 12 o
20 Cows, > - 100 o o
70 Fatbeafls, at 7 /. 15^. - 542 10 o
Expences, r %ou i"v/ 715 iB 6
159 3 6
Intereft, - o^ 5 Sw 51 no
Profit, - - - . 107 12 6
Capital pays 15 /. 8 s. per cent, which is
a very confiderable profit to a gentleman
in whofe account 2 7 per cent, is charged
upon all labour, and proves ftrongly the
great advantages of t;his culture. - The
change from eftablifhed modes is not very
great, being only in one crop out of four;
i but
_ ( 441 }
but yet it is a change, and for that reafon
we muft not fuppofe a common farmer to
have any thing to do with it. This is the
advantage of the gentleman ; he, from the
enlargement of his views, may befuppofed to
know very foon the fuccefs that any where;
attends a new practice, and from the ac-
count, may judge of the probability of its
being beneficial upon his land : Whatevei:
fuccefs attends him,the neighbouring farmers
will copy himfo very flowly, that father, fon
and grandfon, mufl fucceed on the fame land
before their neighbours will come into the
fcheme. It was fo with clover, turnips,
and, I doubt not, was once fo with wheat,
and will be fo with cabbages. They will
however make their way in time.
J
o _
I N 7.
Variation thejtxth.
One hundred and ten acres arable ; the foil
light, cultivated upon improved principles;
carrots in a courfe.
J iVrf 5 : a&- f l
The ten acres I fuppofe, as in the laft
farm, to be grafs near the houfe: The
courfe I throw the arable into, is i. car-
rots; 2. barley; 3. clover; 4. wheat;
which
( 442 )
which is beyond doubt for light lands an
incomparable good one.
Stock. /. s. d.
Rent, &c. as in the laft
farm, sfcf&n&w: - 138 12 o
Jive ftock, ditto, - - 51200
Implements, ditto, srsq -. 7- *3
Seed and tillage,
On 25 acres of wheat
as before, - -34 7 6
Ditto on 25 of fpring
corn, w|pO;MiP' 30 o o
Seed for 25 acres of
carrots, ** * - 7 10 o
71 17 6
Labour.
One earth on 25 acres
of wheat, - _ i 5
Sowing, -J A - 063
Harrowing, - 050
Water -furrowing, -150
Weeding, - I 5
Reaping and harveft-
ing, - - 7 10 o
Thrafhing, 3 <{. per
acre, 75 qrs. at 2 s. 7 10 o
Carryover, . 19 6 3 795 26
Carrying
( 443 )
Brought over, .19 6 3 795 2 6
Carrying oat 8 joui--
neys, ~^ o 1 6
Labour as before on 25
acres of {jpring^orn, 16 89
One earth on 25 acres
: of cafrot land, trench
ploughed with four
horfes r 3 men half
an acre a day,, , , ;T A. $ 10 o
Sowing, - ~,,^..1 A .5 o
Harrowing, - o 63
Hand-hoeing, at 3 /. 75 o o
Digging up, - 25 " o o
Carting home, at5/.' J . $ '^ o
Mowing, making, &c.
10 acres of grafs, 4 o o
Chbppiftg, &c. &c. 25
- acres of ftubble, - 3 15 o
Labour on ditching,
... carting, and re-cart-
ing^ -as before, - 37 1 6 o
CartingTaggots, fc -,. : ,p c 4 o
Cutting chaff, j o 12 6
. c Car^ry over, ^ 198 4 9 795 26
Sundry
( 444 )
Brought over, .198 49 795 2 6
Sundry fmall articles, 6 o o
204 4 9
27 per cent. - 55 i o
259 5 9
Sundry articles.
The fame as in laft farm, - 85 o o
jr. 1139 8~i
ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. L s. d*
Rent, &c. - , - 138 12 o
-D n
70 rJeatts, - 25
Seed for 2^ acres of
y
wheat, 25 of fpring
corn, 25 of clover,
and 25 of carrots, - 37 10 o
Labour, 259 5 9
Sundry articles as be-
fore, - 45 o o
830 7 9
Produce.
25 Acres of wheat, 877 /. s. d.
qrs.at40J. - - 175 o o
Carry over, . 1 75 o o
( 445 )
Brought over, >T. 1 75 o o
25 Acres of barley and oats,
125 qrs. deduct 36 oats,
89ati6*. ^i*kH - 71 4 o
70 Beafts, - 3 - - 630 o o
20 Cows, . -,, : ?, -\ . " 100 o o
976 4 o
Expences, <'*- - 830 7 9
J 45 16 3
Intereft, - - - 56 19 o
Profit, -88 17 3
The capital pays, 1 2 /. 1 1 *.; a profit not
equal to the expence of the culture which
is fo great as to deduct much from the be-
nefit of the practice : I have elfewhere
remarked, that carrots are cultivated to pro-
digious profit in the neighbourhood of
Woodbridge in Suffolk, where three hoeings
are executed for 155. and the crop drawn for
much lefs than I have fuppofed ; but I mean
to extend thefe eftimates to all light foils,
though not fands; and upon loams the
hoeing and diggings muft be more expen-
five than on a loofe fandy foil. I mall, in
the next place, prefent a calculation of the
carrot
( 446 )
tafrot culture in a courfe, 'under the fup-
poiition of the work being done much
cheaper, though not quite fo low, as^where
it has been fo long eftablimed. o"
Variation the f event h.
One hundred and ten acres^ the foil light ', cul*
ti*vated r witb carrots^ in a coiirfe, at a
lower expence.
Stock. I. s. d.
Rent, &c. as before, '_ 138 12 o
Live ftock, ditto, - - 512 o o
Implements, ditto, - 72 13 6
Seed and tillage, ditto *ptt.' 71 17 6
Labour on the corn,
ditto, - 36 ii o
Ditto labour on hay,
ftubble, manure, &c
&c. &c. 52 7 6
Ploughing carrot land
.as before, - 7 10 o
Sowing, - - o 12 6
Harrowing, - 063
Hand-hoeing at 20 s. 25 o o
.Digging at 10 s. - 12 10 o
Carryover, . 134 17 3 795 2 6
Carting
)
Brought over, *34 *7 3 795 * -6
'Carting home, - 50
141 * 3
27 # 8 i o
179 3 3
Sundry articles, as before, -85 o o
59
yiO ^ ANNUAL ACCOUNT.
Expences. L s. d.
Rent, *>-*" - I3 8 I2
70 Beafts, -3* i;:v,Hl^Lv3*f;: 350 oo
Seed, - r^il : ;:..^ ---..' 37100
Labour, . "r - ^OKJO 179 33
Sundries, - - . )%:o 45
lot Produce.
The fame as before,
Expences, - ,*^i "j
Intereft, .^- -
Profit, > .^ /-*"^
The capital pays 21 /. 6 j.^r r^w/. which
great profit is a proof that carrots, not ap-
pearing in the preceding calculation fo ad-
t vantageous
7 '*
( 448 )
vantageous as cabbages, has not been owing
to any deficiency in the value of the crop,
but to the height of the expences at which
I am obliged to eftimate the labour, and to
thefe high prices I muft adhere, or my
readers not accuftomed to the culture would
often find their profit much lefs than I
ffcould ftatc.
GENERAL RECAPITULATION
OF THIS CHAPTER.
Stock requifttef&r the preceding farms.
N I. One hundred and fe- " -gj
venty acres arable ; the
foil clay or loam, - . 865 13 1 1
Ditto a gentleman, - .918 13 u
2. One hundred and ten
acres all arable, the
foil light enough for
turnips, - < . 887 1 1 6
Ditto a gentleman, - . 928 8 6
3. One hundred and twenty
acres all grafs, ' - ". 835 5 o
Ditto a gentleman, - . 852 7 o
4. One hundred and ten
acres, the foil clay or
loam, laid down to
grafs, . 1045 7 9
Ditto
( 449 )
Ditto a gentleman, - . 1141 17 9
5. Fifty-three acres all ara-
ble, .the foil all light,
or part light and part
ftiff, cultivated in car-
rots and lucerne, .1128 80
6. One hundred and ten
acres arable, the foil
clay, cultivated on im-
proved principles, cab-
bages in a courfe, - .1031 4 o
7. One hundred and ten
acres arable, the foil
light, cultivated on
improved principles,
carrots in a courfe, . 1139 3 3
8. One hundred and tea
acres arable, the foil
light, cultivated on im-
proved principles : car-
rots in a courfe at a lefs - ;
expence than N 7. . 1059 5 9
Annual produce of thefe farms, expences
paid.
N i. . 185 o 7
Ditto a gentleman, . 132 07
VOL. I. G g N* a*
f-
.135 16 3
Ditto a gentleman, - . 93 17 3
3- l8 2 15
Ditto a gentleman, - . 165 13 o
4. . 190 o o
Ditto a gentleman, - . 175 14 o
5- I2 3
6 - - ; Su ' '59 3 6
7- ' H5 l6 3
8. . 225 18 9
Profit per cent, on thefe farms*
N I. .21 70
Ditto a gentleman, - . 14 70
2- -,.. - ; J 5 6 O
Ditto a gentleman, - -1 2 O
3. - . 20 14 o
Ditto a gentleman, - J 9 90
4- i 1
Ditto a gentleman, - . 15 90
f. . 10 12 o
6. - ^ : - .15 80
7- - r^-V >C- 12 ii o
8, .21 60
Comparijon
Comparifon between the gentlemen and far-
men, in the profit per cent, on tbeje
farms.. I. s. d.
N? i. The farmer, - si 7 o
The gentleman, - 14 7 o
Superiority of the former, - . 7 o o
2. The farmer, - 1560
The gentleman, 10 20
Superiority of the former, - .5 40
3. The farmer, 20 14 o
The gentleman, - 19 9 o
Superiority of the former, - . i 50
4. The farmer, - 1 8 i o
The gentleman, - 1590
Superiority of the former, - . 2 12 o
Progrejfion of the farmer's prof tin the above
farms.
3- X 20 14 o
4. -' >C. 1 8 10
2. - - . 15 6 o
G g 2
( 452 J
Progreffion of the gentleman's profit in the
above farms.
N 8. - .21 6 o
3- - - .19 90
4- - - &* .15 90
6. i^^nKi - J 5 80
i. * .14 70
7, . 12 II O
5. * ^' . 10 12 O
^ - ^^' 10 20
Thefe general ftates of the account re-
quire a few obfervations to render them
of practical ufe to the reader. Firft, refpet-
ing the common farmer,
His greateft profit is from the clay ara-
ble farm, which pays him fo confiderably as
21 /. 7 s. per cent. Arable farms, with
infinite attention and good conduct, are
certainly very profitable, and the common
farmer certainly gives the firft, and may
eaftly be flippofed to poflefs the latter.
The next profitable farm is the grafs one :
fuch are vafrly beneficial to whoever cul-
tivates them; and, as I have often obferVed*
are liable to fewer lofles and evil chances
than any. There are certain proportions
which
( 453 )
which render fome arable farms more a.d-
vantageous than grafs ones, but in the ge-
neral, the latter will prove mofh fo, and
will in every account rank very high in the
fcale of profit.
The next in order is that laid down to
grafs, which, like thofe already in grafs, are
highly profitable, and pay better than many
arable ones.
The next and lafl is the arable farm on
a foil light enough for turnips ; which,
under fome circumftances and proportions*
is more profitable on clay farms, but in
others, lefs variations indifferent fized farms
arife from varied proportions. If a man
has a thoufand pounds to difpofe of, it may
be moft profitable to expend it upon a clay
foil ; if he has twice that fum, it may be
better on a light one, and vice verfa. No^
thing is therefore fo deceitful, in fuch af-
fairs as thefe, as reafoning by analogy: A
clay farm of 103 acres is not fo beneficial
as a light loamy one : why mould not the
rule hold good with five times the land,
conducted on the fame principles? This
qucftion may doubtlefs be afked with fome
. G g 3 appearance
( 454 )
appearance of reafon ; and to reply only in
generals cannot be anfwered ; but minute
every particular, and variations will infen-
fibly appear, which alter the proportions
perhaps of every article.
In the gentleman's fcale of farms, the firft
is that conducted on improved principles ;
carrots in a courfe, but cultivated at a lefs
expence than the prices I generally minute,
though not fo low as in countries where
they are commonly cultivated. The profit
is 21 I. 6 s. per cent, no twith (landing the
whole labour is increafed as ufual 27 per
cent. This fajm fhews the importance of
gentlemen's procuring their work to be
done at low prices, for in the other carrot
farm, which is farmed in every refpec"t in
the fame manner, and differs only in the
price of labour, the profit per cent, is but
12 I. us. A rife of thefe prices is attended
with fo great confequences that too much
attention cannot be given to it. The carrot
culture in a courfe for light foils is evidentjy
a moft beneficial one where the labour
can be performed at moderate prices. This
part of the calculation muft therefore be
variable
( 455 )
variable according to circumftances, like
every other in thefe fheets : for no one can
fuppofe every variation to be minuted here.
I might give a complete eftimate of each
farm varied to every price of every article
of labour, and to every article of produce
in varied quantity and price ; but fuch a
work would be fo voluminous, that 30
folios would be requifite for an index to
it. Without fplitting fuch hair-breadths,
we may be allowed to pronounce that the
carrot is an excellent vegetable for the field
culture, and the moft profitable to introduce
in a courfe, of any, for light foils,
Next to this carrot farm comes the grafs
one : fuch will ever be particularly high in
the gentleman's account. This farm is
only 25 5. per cent, below the farmer's in
profit : Grafs, with proper management*
(pofleffing the requifite firm to flock) re-
quires fcarce any labour, which is the gen-
tleman's weak part, confequently he mould
always take fpecial care to direct his at^
tempts in that field where he is ftrongeft.
In arable farms, even when cultivated on
improved principles, there are a thoufand
narnelefs deductions to be made in points
6 where
( 456 )
where the gentleman cannot poflefs the
farmer's advantages, .particularly the cuK
ture of corn ; in every thing concerning
which, he is fo open to be cheated,
deceived, buying and felling to difad van-
tage, &c. &c. &c. that all farms in which
corn is an article of confequence, inuft, more
or lefs, be on that account difadvantageous,
In the above carrot farm a profit appears
of above 20 per cent, but half that farm is
every year under corn ; which circumftance
at once fhould remind the reader of thofe
difadvantages which I have fo often men-
tioned, but which cannot be reduced to
eftimate: Hence a grafs farm that leaves
15 per cent, on the foot of its account may
eafily be more advantageous to a gentleman^
than an arable one that appears to yield 20.
The third farm ip this table is that laid
dow r n to grafs : a frefh proof of the profit
of thefc farms ; and {hews, that if a gentle-
man does not chufe to occupy an arable one,
it will anfwer greatly to him to hire one
with a view of converting Jt into a grafs
one.
The fourth is that wherein cabbages are
introduced in a courfe every fourth year :
This
( 457 )
This, although an arable one, and confe-
quently liable to many objections, is an
excellent culture for a gentleman, particu-
1 rly in the crop of cabbages (the fourth of
the farm) being in many cafes convertible
into the fame produce as the clover, ftraw,
hay, &c. &c. that is, into the fame cattle
which, for numerous reafons, is a point of
much importance to a gentleman. If cab-
bages are not cultivated upon this farm,
beans muft be fubftituted; which, befides
the inferiority vifible in the above table, has
all the difadvantages attending corn crops,
in themfelves fo prejudicial to gentlemen.
There is, for this reafon, a much greater
difference between a farm in which cab-
bages are one crop, and another in which
beans are one, than apparent in thefe ac-
counts. Nor is it poffible in fuch eftimates
to reduce every thing to calculation : I
rather ftrained a point in calculating the
difference between a gentleman and farmer
in labour at 27 per cent. I might have done
the fame in that of being cheated in the
minutiiZ of the bufmefs of paying arti-
zans too much of buying and felling to
difadvantage of having bad crops through
c want
want of judgment ; but fo many ideal efti-
mates would, in the eyes of fome, have car-
ried too fictitious an appearance : for this
reafon I confined myfelf to that point the
Jeaft fuppofititious ; and took care in that to
keep within bounds.
The fifth in the fcale is the clay a-
rable.
The fixth the light foil arable farm, cul-
tivated upon improved principles, carrots in
a courfe.
The feventh, carrots and lucerne.
The eighth, the light foil farm.
The inferiority of carrots and lucerne,
in this view, proves nothing againft thofe
vegetables in other variations : There can
be no doubt but a farm cultivated merely
for railing food for cattle, muft, to a gentle-
man, be more profitable than moft common
ones ; but in this the winter vegetable is
carrots, under the difadvantages of the ex-
penfive culture I before mentioned, and
probably the fcale of this farm will here-
after be found too fmall for this manage-
ment. .
END of the FIRST VOLUME*
Jttft fullijhtd, written ty tat Author of the foregoing Work,
In Four Volumes, Oftavo,
Price 1 1. fewed, or 1 1. 45. bound.
Illuftrated with twenty-fix Copper- plates of fuch new-invented
Implements of Hufbandry, as deferve to be generally
known, and Views of fome Pilurefque Romantic Scenes,
which occurred to the Author in the Courfeof his Journey;
A S I X M O N'T H S TOUR
THROUGHOUT THE
NORTH OF ENGLAND
CONTAINING
An Account of the prefent State of AGRICULTURE, MANU-
FACTURES and POPULATION in feveral Counties of this
Kingdom.
PARTICULARLY,
I. The Nature, Value, and Rental , which might and ought to be
of the Soil. cultivated.
i VI.
II. The Size of Farms, with
Accounts of their Stock, Pro-
dufts, Population, and various
Methods of Culture.
III. The Ufe, Expence, and Profit
of feveral Sorts of Manure.
IV. The Breed of Cattle, and the
refpeclive Profits attending them .
V. The State of the Walte Lands
The Condition and Number of
the Poor, with 'their Rates,
Darnings, &c.
VII. The Prices of Labour, Provi-
fions, and the Proportion between
them.
VIII. The Regifter of many curiout
and ufeful Experiments in Ajri-
culture.
INTERSPERSED
With Defcriptionsof SEATS of the NOBILITY andGENTRY;
and other remarkable Objects.
Printed for W. Strahan ; W. Nicoll, No. 51. St. Paul'*
Church-yard; B.Collins at Salisbury; and J. Balfour at Edin-
burgh, and fold by all the Bookfellers inTown and Country.
N. B. In the Minutes of this Tour are regiftered the Parti-
culars pfaboveTn REE HUNDRED ORIGINAL EXPERIMENTS
on various Points of Hufbandry; communicated by many of
the Nobility and Gentry; particularly on Cabbages, Carrots,
Potatoes, Lucerne, Sainfoine, Burnet, Graffes gathered by
Hand, Madder, Grain, and Pulfe drilled and horfe-hoed,
Manures, Draining, &c. &c. &c.
Kf 3 " The Defign of this Tour is to fpread ufeful Know-
ledge of all Sorts, to difplay to one Part of the Kingdom the
Practices of the other, to remark wherein fuch Practice 13
hurtful, and wherein it is commendable. To draw forth
Spirited Examples of good Hufiandry from Obfcurity, and
difplay them as the proper Objefts of Imitation.
" The Farmers in one Place grow rich by Methods that
would enrich their Brethren in another; but remain quite
unknown.
II. A
IT.
A SIX WEEKS TOUR
THROUGH THE
SOUTHERN COUNTIES of ENGLAND and WALES,
D E S C R I B 1VfG PARTICULARtV,
IV. The various Prices of Labour
and Provifions.
V. The State of the working Poor
in thofe Counties, wherein the
Riots were moft remarkable.
I. The prefent State of Agriculture
and Manufactures.
II. The different Methods-of culti-
vating the Soil. ,
JIT. The Succefs attending fome late
ExperimentsonvariousGrafles, &c.
DESCRIPTIONS W and COPPERPLATES
Of fuch new invented IMPLEMENTS of HUSBANDRY, as
deferve to be generally known :
INTERSPERSED
With Accounts of the SEATS of the NOBILITY and
GENTRY, and other Objects worthy Notice.
Handfomely printed in Octavo. Price 55. fewed, 6s. bound.
The fecond Edition, corrected and enlarged.
K^In this fecond Edition, the Author has inferted fome frefh
Informations he received of new Improvements in Hufbandry
in the neighbourhood of the Rout, with other confiderable
Additions, which he hopes will render it more acceptable to
the Public ; and be found to co-operate entirely with his ori-
ginal Defign of extending theKnowledge of Britifh Agriculture.
The following PaJJage, charafteriftic of this Work, is tranf-
latedfrom a foreign Literary Journal.
" The Title of this Work is. long, but we find the Work
hfelf too fiiort. It is full of ufeful and interefting Obfervations
upon divers Subjects mentioned in the Title. The Author,
who is profoundly verfed in every Thing that concerns rural
Oeconomy and Agriculture, is alfo a Man of Wit and Tafte:
and the Defcriptions which he gives of many fine Seats in the
Country, fhew that he has a great Knowledge of the fine
Arts, and particularly of Architecture."
Billiatb. des Scien. &c. Tom vingt-aeuvieme^rem.part.p. 21 ,
111.
Handfomely printed in Octavo. Price 55. fewed, 6s. bound,
The fecond Edition, corrected and enlarged,
OF THE
FARMER'S LETTERS
PEOPLE OF E "N L G L A N D.
Containing
The Sentiments of a Pra6\ical Hufbandman on various Subjects of great
Importance ; particularly, the Exportation of Corn. The Balance of Agri-
culture and Manufactures. The prefent State of Hufbandry. The Cir-
cumftances attending large and fmall Farms. The prefent State of the
Poor. The Price of Provifions. The Proceedings of the Society for the
Encouragement of Arts, &c. The Importance of Timber and Planting.
Emigrations to the Colonies. The Means of promoting the Agriculture
me! Population of Great Britain, &c. &c. To which is added, SY tv/E }
cr, Occafional Trades on Hu&andry end Rural Oeconomics.
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